In the first chapter of Malcolm Gladwell’s book Blink! he talks about the concept of “thin-slicing”. Basically, it is the idea that you can make an accurate judgment about something after seeing a very “thin slice” of the overall picture. For instance, psychologist John Gottman can watch a 15 minute clip of a married couple having a disagreement, and with 95% accuracy, he can determine whether the couple will still be together in 15 years.
Another example he gives is how we make first impressions. Hollywood producer Brian Grazer cast Tom Hanks in the movie Splash and Apollo 13—two radically different movies, because of Hank’s “likability”. When no one could imagine Tom Hanks playing an astronaut Grazer said, “Well, I didn’t know whether Tom Hanks was an astronaut. But I saw this as a movie about a spacecraft in jeopardy. And who does the world want to get back the most? Who does America want to save? Tom Hanks. We don’t want to see him die. We like him too much.”
What are your first impressions of the Apostle Paul? Do you think he would have been easy to get along with? Was he authoritative, demanding, and always serious? In this passage we get an authentic glimpse of Paul that will either affirm or correct your first impression of him.
We now come to the occasion for the letter. Paul plans to send Timothy so he can receive an update from the Philippians and he is sending their messenger Epaphroditus back to them. The passage doesn’t contain any theological arguments, but it is significant because it shows us how Paul applied the gospel in the context of his closest companions and ministry partners. What we find are three model servants worthy of emulating.
We tend to develop relationships only with those who further our own interests. And because we are only concerned about ourselves, we rarely speak encouragingly about others.
Paul shows us that we ought to Honor those who humbly and sacrificially serve Christ with affirmation and commendation.
Read https://ref.ly/logosref/Bible.Php2.19-30 (Philippians 2:19-30).
I. A Servant Who Commends OthersPaul speaks well of others. He says something encouraging about Timothy and Epaphroditus. These men were living in a manner “worthy of the gospel of Christ” (https://ref.ly/logosref/Bible.Php1.27 (Phil 1:27)). They were examples of humility; men who “count others more significant than [themselves]” (https://ref.ly/logosref/Bible.Php2.3 (Phil 2:3)). They embodied the attitude Paul exhorted the Philippians to have.
After considering the example of Jesus Christ (https://ref.ly/logosref/Bible.Php2.5-11 (Phil 2:5-11)), he briefly discusses his own willingness to be “poured out as a drink offering,” (https://ref.ly/logosref/Bible.Php2.17 (Phil 2:17)). And now he commends Timothy and Epaphroditus. Essentially, he encourages the Philippians to imitate these men. Why doesn’t Paul encourage them to imitate Christ?
In https://ref.ly/logosref/Bible.Eph5.1 (Ephesians 5:1) Paul writes, “Be imitators of God, as beloved children.” We get that. It sounds less threatening to our legalism detectors. We hear “imitate God,” and we respond, “Right, that’s impossible. You might as well tell me to jump over the Grand Canyon.” But, because we find it impossible, we are less offended because now we can apply grace.
However, in https://ref.ly/logosref/Bible.Php3.17 (Philippians 3:17) Paul says, “Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us” (cf. https://ref.ly/logosref/Bible.1Co4.16 (1 Cor 4:16) “I urge you, then, be imitators of me.”; https://ref.ly/logosref/Bible.1Co11.1 (1 Cor 11:1) “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.”; https://ref.ly/logosref/Bible.1Th1.6 (1 Thes 1:6) “And you became imitators of us and of the Lord.”
The goal is to imitate Christ—perfect obedience. Think that’s impossible?...
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