Lesson 11

The Model Servant

Philippians 2:19-24

ILLUSTRATION: "Men wanted for hazardous journey, small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant danger, safe return doubtful. Honor and recognition in case of success." That advertisement appeared in a London newspaper and thousands of men responded! Why? Because it was signed by Sir Ernest Shackleton, a renowned Artic explorer. When I was 10 years old, I ordered a book called "Shackleton's Valiant Voyage" and read the true adventure of Shackleton and his crew's journey to Antarctica.

If the Lord Jesus advertised for workers, what do you suppose it would say? It might read something like this: "Men and women wanted for difficult task of serving. You will often be misunderstood, even by those working with you. You will face constant attack from an invisible enemy. You may not see the results of your labor, and your full reward will not come until after your labor is completed. It may cost you your home, your ambitions, even your life."

The call of Christ is for servants. It is not for those who want to lead, but for those who are willing to follow. It is not for people who want to be famous, but for those who are willing to be forgotten. It is not for those who love money, but for those who love God, and souls, and the church. God calls us to be servants. Jesus said, "... Whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be chiefest, shall be servant of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister and to give his life a ransom for many" (Mark 10:43b-45).

In spite of the demands that he makes, Jesus Christ has many who would and have given their all for Him.

Our text for today tells us about a young man named Timothy, a man who answered the call of God, whose character qualities are listed in Philippians 2:19-24.

Timothy was a servant. In fact, at the beginning of Philippians, Paul introduces Timothy as "a servant of Jesus Christ" (1:1). In our text, Paul speaks about Timothy, giving a high recommendation to this young man because of his willingness to be a servant.

The whole context of chapter 2 is service. The theme is submission. We are told that Christ himself became an obedient, humble servant (v.7) with no reputation. Paul tells us then to have the mind of Christ (vss.3-4). The point that Paul is making is that one of the keys to having joy is to have the mind of a servant. Otherwise, people will rob us of our joy. So, if we do not want to allow people to rob us of our joy, we must have the submissive, lowly, obedient, humble mind of a servant.

Paul expresses his plan, the Lord permitting, to send Timothy to Philippi. This fits right into the theme of the letter, because Timothy is a servant (v.22d). Thus, Timothy is set forth to the Philippians (and to us) as a model servant. What qualities does a model servant have? Paul gives us 6 in this text.

I. A Submissive Attitude Toward Authority

"I trust in the Lord to send Timothy"

What if Timothy said, "I don't intend to be sent!" Timothy was not self-willed. He was willing to submit to the leadership of Paul. He was a team player, not a self-styled superstar. Paul was in prison and could not go to Philippi. Timothy was willing to do for Paul, what Paul could not do for himself.

The work of the Lord requires for some to lead and some to follow. Some must be in authority and some must be willing submit. Ephesians 5:21 tells us to "submit ourselves to one another in the fear of God." Hebrews 13:17 instructs us to obey and submit to our spiritual leaders. Submission is a part of life. In the home children submit to parents and wives to their husband. In the workplace, servants are to submit to their masters. In the nation, citizens are commanded to submit to the law and to the governor. So it should not surprise us to learn that submission is part of the Lord's work, too.

So here is Timothy, willing to follow, willing to play second fiddle, willing to be sent by Paul. In fact, Paul was always sending Timothy somewhere. He sent him to Corinth (I Cor.4:17-19), to Thessalonica (I Thess. 3:1-2), and to Ephesus (I Tim. 1-3). Timothy was one of Paul's troubleshooters, along with Titus, whom Paul could send to some hotspot and have confidence that the job would get done (I Cor. 16:10). Even at the end of life, Paul wrote Timothy and told him to come to him quickly, bringing a cloak and some books (II Tim. 4:9,13). The relationship between Paul and Timothy was like that of a father and son (v.22).

Timothy was willing to go anywhere, ready to help anyway, ready to sacrifice anything for Paul.

"The Lord willing, I plan to send Timothy to you soon, so that I will be encouraged when I know how you are doing."

II. A Genuine Concern For People, 2:20.

What does Paul mean when he says, "For I have no man likeminded"? There is dual meaning to this phrase. I have no man quite like Timothy; he is unique. I have no man who has my mind like Timothy (v.2). We think alike, we have the same values and concerns. Timothy was truly Paul's disciple. Paul had been such a strong influence in his life. If you love and respect your leader you will become like him.

Paul promises that Timothy will "naturally care for your state." The word "naturally" means "truly, genuinely, sincerely". The word "care" has the negative side of "worry" (4:6). From a positive perspective it means "to have a deep concern."

The mark of a servant is that he/she is more concerned about others than self. A model servant has a deep concern for welfare of people. A servant wants to meet people's needs. A servant feeds people who are hungry, and buys a Coke for those who are thirsty, and visits sick people to pray for them, and makes friends with those who are lonely, and teaches those who are ignorant, and confronts those who are wayward. A servant is a people person.

III. A Unique Unselfishness, 2:21a.

"for all seek their own"

The thing which made Timothy so unique was his unselfishness. Paul says that everyone is looking out for his own interests. What a sad commentary! Most want to know, "What's in it for me?" Not Timothy! He is the living example of 2:4.

IV. A Commitment To The Things Of Christ, Serving The Gospel Cause, 2:21-22.

We should not view Timothy's concern for people and unselfishness simply as some kind of humanitarian benevolence. The commitment of Timothy was not to his own interests, like everyone else, but to the things of Christ. He served with Paul "in the gospel" cause. Timothy was "seeking first the kingdom of God and his righteousness" (Mt. 6:33).

We must remember that, we are servants, not of society but of God, of Jesus Christ. Our first loyalty must be to Christ. Our deepest commitment must be to the cause of Christ and the gospel. Everything else is secondary. We must love what Christ loves. We must be interested in the things that Christ is interested in. We serve Christ.

V. A Proven Record, 2:22a.

Timothy had a good reputation. He had a clean testimony. He had a proven record that the Philippians knew. There were no blemishes, no scars, no stains that would mar his character and render him useless to the cause of the gospel, II Tim.2:20-24. A reputation takes years to build and can be destroyed in one act!

VI. An Ability To Be Flexible, 2:23-24.

In order to be a servant, you must be flexible. You cannot be rigid. Paul emphasizes that when he says, "I hope to send him at once, as soon as see how it is going to go with me." Paul has put Timothy on standby, ready to go, ready to stay.

What is it that determines our schedule? Verse 19, 24 remind us that it the Lord Jesus who sets the schedule. Plans are formulated recognizing that Jesus Christ is Lord, even of our time and of our schedule. We must be flexible, willing to go at once, patient to stay if needed.

The marks of a model servant are a submissive attitude, a genuine concern for people, a unique unselfishness, a commitment to Christ and the gospel cause, a proven record, an ability to be flexible.

Do you have the qualities of a servant?