Genuinely caring about others

Philippians 2:20-21 (NLT)

I have no one else like Timothy, who genuinely cares about your welfare.  All the others care only for themselves and not for what matters to Jesus Christ. 

                                               

Timothy's name means, "one who honors God."  He was a close, trusted associate of Paul's. They had a kind of mentor-protégé or father-son relationship.  Tradition says that Timothy succeeded the Apostle John as Bishop of Ephesus and was beaten to death at age 80.  He was a very special person and a true leader of the first century church.  Paul received special comfort, encouragement, and strength from Timothy's presence.

The word “like” (no one else like Timothy) in the Greek means “of like soul”.  To be “of like soul” is to very, very close to another person in personality, interests, what you think about, what you value, what emotions you have, what drives you, etc. Do you have anyone in your life who is “of like soul” to you?  It is probably rare that anyone has such a person in your life, but if you do, you are truly blessed.      

Paul described Timothy of someone of like soul because Timothy genuinely cared about the welfare of others as Paul did.  One aspect of great leadership is caring about others.  Leadership is not focused exclusively on or about self yet so many so-called leaders only look out for themselves.  Any true leader of our or any church must show a genuine caring and concern for others.  True Christian leaders care about the concerns of Jesus Christ for His church and not what the church can do for them (e.g. make them feel superior or more important than others in the flock).

However, it is your responsibility as a Christian to genuinely care about the welfare of others.  Do you? Do you give of your time, energy, and money to help others in need?  Is your conversation with others more about them than about you?  Do you pray and ask God to enable you to be more sensitive and genuinely interested and involved with others’ lives than even about your own (remember the teaching of Philippians 2:3-4)?  Indeed, you must pray because by nature all humans are selfish people.  Yet, you can change through the help of the Lord who will forgive you and give you new opportunities to serve Him by serving others.  He also gives you the power to forgive others who act so selfishly in your life.  This was the secret learning by Paul and Timothy that enabled them to do so much for so many others and lead the way for the first century church.