Minister to My Need

2:25 But I thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger and minister to my need;

Today we come to the last of five designations that Paul uses to describe Epaphroditus in this verse: "minister to my need."

The Romans did not generally feed their prisoners. A person in chains was dependent on friends or relatives or charity or some private source of money in order to eat. Epaphroditus came from Philippi to bring money to Paul to provide for his needs while in chains (see 4:14-18). This is what Paul means when he refers to Epaphroditus as "minister to my need."

Apart from the duty to "remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them" (Heb.13:3), one of the duties of Christ’s people is to take care of one another’s physical needs. Every man is responsible to pull his own weight (as far as possible) and also to help meet the needs of those who cannot provide for themselves.

"He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need." (Eph.4:28)

"Be devoted to one another in brotherly love...contributing to the needs of the saints." (Romans 12:10,13)

"You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my own needs and to the men who were with me. In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” (Paul is speaking: Acts 20:34-35)

"But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?" (1John 3:17)

You don’t have to be a Bible scholar to see that God asks His people to maintain a regular practice of giving to meet the needs of the saints. The strange thing is that in our society we are so affluent and the church is so stratified (there are many churches that have NO poor people in them), that we are not pressed by the visible need to practice this. And yet, in other churches, and around the globe, there is great need among fellow believers. Our affluence (compared to the rest of the world) increases our obligation to be generous ("Instruct those who are rich in this present world... to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share." - 1Tim.6:17-18). If we are not generous, then we are slaves to money.

Lord, I am such a stingy person! Forgive me for how intensely I feel my own needs and how lightly I take the needs of others. Whereas Christ’s spirit cried out, "You! You! You!" my sinful spirit cries out, "Me! Me! Me!" O Lord, may my spirit be replaced by His Spirit, that I might be transformed into a man who is zealous for good works, a man who remembers the things of this world are fleeting, a man through whom the love of Christ flows freely. Please, Father, freely I have received, help me freely to give.

Note: If anyone is looking for a good Christian organization through whom to give to the poor, I would recommend Oak Seed Ministries Intl., PO Box 11222, Burke, VA 22009 (703-658-7700).