Comrades

I was impressed about how close Paul got with those who were serving in spreading the gospel, how in working together, their hearts were knit together in love as they had the same goal of making Christ known and encouraging one another in this endeavor. It made me thank God for those who labor among me serving the Lord. How often I take them for granted and don't express appreciation. Also, it made me praise the Lord for all the Christian brothers and sisters I know and love that help me in my walk with Christ. How lovely is the body of Christ! We need each other in order to become men and women transformed in the likeness of Christ.

What I see when I read this passage this morning. It's that we all have our parts. God has a special part for each of us. Each person is there to do their part. We are not to do it all. I also see how we all work together, in helping one another. It all comes together.
It's all part of the picture. It is not just one person, but a handful all working together and we are not always aware of it. It is a beautiful thing of how God works. God and His ways are amazing!

Sons, Brothers, Fathers, Soldiers and Fellow Workers... All words that mean to be Family. Standing shoulder to Shoulder fighting with and for eachother. Loving on one another and encouraging one another. What a image to strive for in todays day in age. When there are many families fighting within themselves, Betraying eachother or doing things out of selfish motive then splitting up, rather than standing together supporting one another as how it should actually be.

I Praise God and thank him again for the reminder of how we should be with one another. I thank him for the example shown today on how to work together as a team, be encouraging and then look forwrad to being united in fellowship with eachother. I fall short on that many times, and I just thank God for the reminder and his forgiveness when I do fail in these areas.

Unselfishness! Don't be selfish. The best place I've made friends is not at Church. It was at hospitals, the V.A., care centers, and the shut-ins. I go to what is called a mega-Church, personally, I see nothing but stuffed-shirts and conceit. Should this upset anyone, I ask for your forgiveness and prayer. I call it the way I see it. It is a big beautiful Church though!? I thought we were the Church. I have problems going to a Church, that tells me I "have" to tithe to the Church, give GOD HIS 10%. I do and then some! But it ain't to no Church. You think GOD likes your multi-million dollar Churchs when there are people dying from lack of food and water, medicine. He desires mercy, not sacrifice! (Hosea 6:6) But you probably wounldn't notice sitting there all smug and comfy in your air-conditioned building, in your padded pew, probably got coffee and donuts too. After 2000 years nothing has changed, except my cynical eyes. Remember the truth will set you free. Via con Dios!

the scripture tells us that as christians we should not be selfish towards each other instead pray one for onother an live in unity as God wants us to be. as the bible says we are not uor own we were bought with a price. It also shows how merciful God is on us when we servr him an seek him diligently.

wel i learn the most important thin in my life that i should be selfless and its not always about my needsbut its all about advancing the kingdom of God and that can be done if we learn to consider others

I have a young grand daughter that deals with the public every day she works. I have been encouraging her to be nice to those that say and do things that hurt her feelings etc. Spreading love when they don't give love. That's whats important. That's what I got out of this passage. Share that love even when others don't, especially when others don't.

Christian friendship has three areas, Christian to Christian, Christian to Non Believer and Christian to established friends. As far as C to C, light attracts light, whether it be at church, school, or at a gathering. You can tell by the way they talk and carry themselves. Good relationship to renew ones soul with hope and comradery.
The second is C to Non, this is the toughest to establish and maintain. For me in college I let my Christian show in all I do, say, act and feel. As time passes they come to me, feeling comfortable, relaxed, and at ease. If my approach is aggressive they run. In a very secular college I have made friends with more non's then I have with C's.
Next once a mutual friendship is established and the borders of shyness come down a bit, questions arise. "Why are you, How do you deal, When do you have time, Don't you stress out" Thats a direct invitation from Christ to explain him.

This passage has showed me that one person cannot edify the body of Christ and do the work God on their own, we have to work together in spreading the gospel. In order to work together effectively we have to operate in oneness and this can only be accomplished if we care for others as we do ourselves. We are to love eachother, care for eachother, share ones grief and sadness, pray for eachother, encourage one another,share ones happiness and joy and embrace one another. christian friendship should not allow no foothold for the enemy or room for envy and strife but it should be an expression of the love of God and the keeping of his command.

I got a lot of insight out of verse 21 Paul is telling us that as a whole that people are self-seeking. But, that Timothy was different. Timothy has a Godly love for others. We all should have this type of Love for it is with the true love of God that we are a help and blessing to others.

I went for a long time doing things for people and being a help to others and uplifting others, until God showed me that is not about the doing it is about the way we love people. I asked God to give me this love the love that he has for all of us, so that I could love others the correct way. I love the freedom that has given to me. I am not out seeking anything in return; not change in others behavior; not praise from them; not feeling that I am better than them. I just love them for be them.

I am the lighthouse that gives the light and they have to choose to use the light and accept it. My job is to shine; give support, encouragement, and guidance. The lighthouse does not care about the looks of the boats that are at sea; whether they a small or big, mighty or weak, battered or whole it just keeps on shining and sending out the light to everyone. The lighthouse does not grow better or worse because of what the boats choose to do, it just keeps on shining its light for all to see.

I agree with all the aforementioned comments. What astonishes me in the passage is the love that Paul has for the Philippian church. Whilst in prison,(!!!) he is sending two of his most beloved commrades to leave him in order to administer to the church in Philippi.It must have been so diffiuclt for Paul to see his friends leave for such a long and ardous journey. That is true love.

So often I have found myself resentful and jealous if I have to "share" my friends with others. Shame on me!

Just a quick comment to "BY HIS STEPS"- I agree that we must get out of our Ivory towers and comfortable pews to reach outside our fortressess and get out into the real world. But one must also consider that there are a lot of "Walking Wounded" within those high walls that need to be loved too!

This passage reveals to me that we should all strive to live like Timothy did, in a way that makes others want to be around us, and interact with us. As being a friend, you could try and help other friends become stronger in their faith by inviting them to get involved with whatever it is that you do. In seeking out good Christian friends, you could spend time with those around you and get to know them better, and how better to communicate with them.

Caring for our fellow brothers and sisters and forming a close bond should be a high priority on our list. Just as Jesus has a tight relationship with his disciples, we too should strive for a more intimate relationship with each other.>

It seems to me, given that there are no perfect humans that Paul is choosing to look at the positive attributes of these men. He focuses on their strengths not their weaknesses. I don’t believe Paul was blind to them, he simply chose to focus on their strengths.

I think from this we can learn to value others, and we do this by focussing on their strengths. That I think is one of our roles in Christian friendship. I guess a proven strategy is to articulate their strengths, not just in front of them but also when we talk about them to others.

Interesting! This flies into the face of pessimistic approaches and attitudes.

Leaning on your own strengh is what the world wants you to do. So many times we think we are strong enough to handle them. But with leaning in god and not ourselves is where true strength comes from. When i look back and see what god has done in my life i realize that it was by his power and glory that it was done. So when Paul talks about leaning on god and not the flesh it gives me hope when god is in me i can go on.

What does Paul mean in vs. 29 & 30:
29So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men, 30for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.

"Risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me" - sounds like he is saying "this guy almost died because he had to pick up the slack for you" and what does he mean "...in your service to me"? What kind of service were these people giving to Paul?