Housekeeping

If the Lord Jesus is willing, I hope to send Timothy to you soon for a visit. Then he can cheer me up by telling me how you are getting along. 20 I have no one else like Timothy, who genuinely cares about your welfare. 21 All the others care only for themselves and not for what matters to Jesus Christ. 22 But you know how Timothy has proved himself. Like a son with his father, he has served with me in preaching the Good News. 23 I hope to send him to you just as soon as I find out what is going to happen to me here. 24 And I have confidence from the Lord that I myself will come to see you soon.

Paul has been shifting back and forth about whether he might soon die or be able to visit Philippi again. A person in prison could easily lose confidence about being released.

So, in the meantime, Paul planned to send the young pastor Timothy. Paul’s confidence in Timothy was sky high. Speaking of Timothy as a spiritual son, Paul praised the younger man’s devotion to Christ. Not only would Timothy do good work in building up the Philippian church, but he would also be able to warm Paul’s heart by bringing back news about the congregation.

As Bible passages go, this one might look less important than many other texts. The comments here can seem like house­keeping details.

Yet even such everyday ­matters are vital. We all need ­pastors. We all need elders who will encourage our devotion to Christ. Church council meetings, committees, producing the weekly bulletin: these are the ordinary activities of the church and may not seem terribly important.

But housekeeping details keep the church on track and help it fulfill its Great Commission. God is in the details. There are no ordinary acts of Christian service. All things are holy when we do them for the Lord!

In all that we do for your church, O God, whether we are in the spotlight or behind the scenes, help us to honor you and to discern how best to serve you. Increase your kingdom, Lord. In Christ, Amen.