我們留下怎樣的榜樣？
腓立比書二章19至30節
19我靠主耶穌指望快打發提摩太去見你們，叫我知道你們的事，心裡就得著安慰。
20因為我沒有別人與我同心，實在罣念你們的事。
21別人都求自己的事，並不求耶穌基督的事。
22但你們知道提摩太的明證；他興旺福音，與我同勞，待我像兒子待父親一樣。
23所以，我一看出我的事要怎樣了結，就盼望立刻打發他去；
24但我靠著主自信我也必快去。
25然而，我想必須打發以巴弗提到你們那裡去。他是我的兄弟，與我一同做工，一同當兵，是你們所差遣的，也是供給我需用的。
26他很想念你們眾人，並且極其難過，因為你們聽見他病了。
27他實在是病了，幾乎要死；然而神憐恤他，不但憐恤他，也憐恤我，免得我憂上加憂。
28所以我越發急速打發他去，叫你們再見他，就可以喜樂，我也可以少些憂愁。
29故此，你們要在主裡歡歡樂樂的接待他，而且要尊重這樣的人；
30因他為做基督的工夫，幾乎至死，不顧性命，要補足你們供給我的不及之處。
信息分享
聖經運用多種方式教導基督徒怎樣過活。其中一個最有效的方式，就是給我們列舉別人的榜樣。這段經文為我們提供了四個典範人物，他們分別是耶穌基督、保羅、提摩太和以巴弗提。在今天的查經中，我們將認識當中兩人。
保羅最初認識提摩太的時候，提摩太還是個少年人；但隨著兩人越來越熟悉，他們便建立了情如父子的感情。提摩太似乎天生體弱和性格害羞；然而，他卻凡事以耶穌基督為首。請留意保羅在第20至21節所說的話；他豈不是一個值得我們學效的美好典範？
保羅希望提摩太前往腓立比(離他當時住的地方超過五百哩)，好幫助那裡的教會，之後，再回到羅馬，把腓立比教會的消息告訴保羅。這項任務，對於年少體弱的提摩太來說，實在是一大挑戰。可是，提摩太為了基督的緣故，便義不容辭地照他的吩咐去做。如果換了我們，我們願意去嗎？或經常以體弱為藉口，甚麼工作也一概推辭？
以巴弗提又是另一個典範。他曾經受託把一些物資帶到羅馬送給保羅，補足保羅的缺欠。他卻為此而病倒，幾乎喪命。如今他已康復，準備上路回家。
今天，我們聽見許多人批評基督徒說：「看，你們為教會做太多工作了！」，「你這樣辛苦為教會工作，遲早會疲勞過度了！」然而，以巴弗提卻因為基督的緣故而任勞任怨，甚至健康受損。
以上兩人都立下了捨己為人的佳美榜樣，值得我們每個信徒努力學效。
反思：
我為基督做了多少工作呢？我是否真的犧牲了甚麼？我還可以多做些甚麼呢？
WHAT EXAMPLE ARE WE LEAVING BEHIND?
Philippians 2: 19 - 30
19 But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state.
20 For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state.
21 For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus.
22 But you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel.
23 Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see how it goes with me.
24 But I trust in the Lord that I myself shall also come shortly.
25 Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, but your messenger and the one who ministered to my need;
26 since he was longing for you all, and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick.
27 For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.
28 Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful.
29 Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem;
30 because for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, to supply what was lacking in your service toward me.
Message
The bible teaches Christians how to live. It does this in many different ways. One very helpful way is by giving us the example of others. Here in this chapter four people are mentioned: Jesus Christ, Paul, Timothy and Epaphroditus. Our reading tells us about two of these.
Timothy was a very young man when Paul first met him but the two grew to love each other very much. Timothy seems to have been physically weak and shy. Yet Timothy was one in whose life Jesus Christ came first. Notice what Paul says in verses 20 and 21. Isn't that a wonderful example for us to follow?
Paul wanted Timothy to go to Philippi (over 500 miles each way) to help the church there. Then he was to return to Paul in Rome and tell him about the church at Philippi. That would be been a big task for a physically weak young man. But Timothy was willing to go for Christ's sake. Are we as willing as that or do we very often see physical weakness as an excuse to do nothing?
Epaphroditus was the other example. He had brought a gift to Paul in Rome. In trying to minister to Paul there he had become ill and nearly lost his life. Now he had recovered and was ready to return home.
People today criticize Christians when they think the Christian is doing too much work in the church. 'You shouldn't do all that', they say. 'You'll wear yourself out.' But Epaphroditus gladly did everything he could for Christ's sake, even though his health suffered.
Wonderful self-sacrificing examples aren't they?
THINK ABOUT THIS:
How much am I doing for Christ? Is it really costing me anything? What more could I be doing?