“But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state.”
At the end of chapter 2, Paul illustrated selflessness in the lives of people. His first portrayal was Timothy, who is set before us in verses 19-24.
“But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to your shortly”
The Philippian church was in trouble; it was in danger of a split. So Paul was going to send Timothy shortly to investigate the problem.
That trip was a long, hazardous round trip of over 2,000 miles. Bandits plagued the highways, and the ships were not seaworthy—all that to investigate the problem at Philippi. Paul’s concern for the church was great.
Timothy was Paul’s troubleshooter. Whenever there was a difficulty to which Paul could not attend personally, he sent Timothy. Timothy was a vest-pocket edition of the apostle Paul. “And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2 Ti. 2:2). Two cases in point were Corinth and Thessalonica.
“For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.” (1 Co. 4:17)
“Therefore, when we could no longer endure it, we thought it good to be left in Athens alone, and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith.” (1 Th. 3:1,2)
“That I also may be encouraged when I know your state”
When Timothy came back, Paul would know the status of the church. By implication, Paul said, “I hope that Euodia and Syntyche will have buried the hatchet by then.”
PRINCIPLE:
It is important to mentor others to multiply our tasks.
APPLICATION:
Is there a person or people in your life you are influencing to multiply your ministry? That is the way the gospel and other ministry spreads.
