When you want a job done well, you choose someone who has proven themselves able and faithful - someone who will do the job - who will stay on the job till it's done - and someone who will put their heart into it. The work of the gospel, and in fact, all work - every job is dependent upon faithful workers who will do a good and a thorough job.
Listen to Paul's confidence here:
19 But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state.
20 For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state.
Nobody else had the burden for these people like Timothy did. Paul had observed his care for these people and his dedication to the gospel.
21 For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's.
Others, Paul had observed, were more concerned about themselves. Others had their own things going and were not willing to dedicate themselves to the work like Timothy was. God has called us to forsake all to follow and serve Him. Paul points out 2 Tim -
2Ti 2:4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
We must remember that we are soldiers in the army of the Lord. our priority must be to complete His work. All else must take a back seat. The work of the gospel comes first and foremost.
The prophet Haggai rebuked the people for pursuing their own comfort while the Temple of the Lord lay in ruins.
Haggai 1
2 Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, This people say, The time is not come, the time that the LORD'S house should be built.
3 Then came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet, saying,
4 Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses, and this house lie waste?
5 Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.
6 Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.
7 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.
8 Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the LORD.
9 Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith the LORD of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house.
10 Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed from her fruit.
11 And I called for a drought upon the land, and upon the mountains, and upon the corn, and upon the new wine, and upon the oil, and upon that which the ground bringeth forth, and upon men, and upon cattle, and upon all the labour of the hands.
It costs us when we are not faithful to the Lord's work.
22 But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel.
Timothy had proven himself. He had served well, and so was appointed to a greater task. Ours is a progressive promotion with the Lord as we prove ourselves faithful - just as in any other endeavor. Faithfulness is a key factor.
Lu 16:10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
Lu 19:17 And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities. )
Now, here is an application you can use in your own everyday life.
If you want to move up in your work - if you want a promotion - if you want a raise in pay - if you want a better job - if you want to do a good job - then do your best; stay on the job until it is done right and done completely; do more than you have to do; do work you can be proud of; do work you would be proud to sign your name to. Do this and you will always have a job. Do this and you will move forward.
25 Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.
26 For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick.
Here is another faithful servant - Epaphroditus.
Here is another who had proven himself and shown a heart for the work. Here is another key - you send the one who cares. Throughout the scriptures God has sought for those who had a burden for the work - those who would share and carry His burden.
Eze 22:30 And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.
Isa 59:16 And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him.
Isa 63:5 And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me.
Jer 5:1 Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it.
God is still searching for such people.
27 For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: . . .
29 Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation.
< 30 Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me.
Look at the dedication of this man. Through sickness, and even near death, he faithfully served - because the work was that important.
Let us ask - how seriously do I take the Lord's work? Am I willing to suffer? Am I willing to endure inconvenience? Am I willing to keep going no matter what comes my way?
We need to apply these questions to every area of our lives - to everything we do. Is what I am doing important enough to spend my life on? Am I doing what God wants me to do?
And even - am I giving my employer a fair deal? Am I worth what I am paid? Am I giving 100%?
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