Descriptions of a Faithful Friend: “Your Minister to My Needs”

Faithful friends are hard to come by and the ones you find are worth keeping.

Paul had a faithful friend named Epaphroditus who he describes in detail in Philippians 2:25. I pray that Paul’s description helps to show you what characteristics to look for in your friendships.

Epaphroditus was a brother, a fellow worker, a fellow soldier, and a messenger. And today we will look at the fifth and final characteristic where Paul calls Epaphroditus “your minister to my needs” (verse 25).

Epaphroditus was a minister of the church at Philippi, sent to Paul in a Roman prison to meet his needs.

Please note that Epaphroditus did not come with what he thought Paul needed. He had not made a predetermined list of what he believed Paul should have. He went to Rome in humility to find out from Paul what his actual needs were. Then he committed to try and meet them.

That’s what good and close friends do. They come to you and listen. They try to hear your heart and then meet your needs. They do not have an agenda for your life. They want to see you succeed and thrive.

In fact, one of Paul’s teachings in Ephesians 4:29 says, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs.”

Good friends don’t come and pontificate or preach. They come to listen. Sometimes you don’t even need to say anything! You listen. Then respond.

This was Epaphroditus to Paul. He was a minister of Jesus who was sent by the Philippian church to care for Paul’s needs. But first he understood them. He even risked his life in coming to serve Paul (verse 29). But that’s how much he loved Paul. How we all need friends like this!

Descriptions of a Faithful Friend: “Your Messenger”

Faithful. This word is defined as “steadfast in affection or allegiance, loyal, constant, devoted.”

Paul describes his faithful friend Epaphroditus in Philippians 2:25. He uses five terms to describe him. A brother. A fellow worker. A fellow soldier.

And today’s description: your messenger!

Paul calls Epaphroditus in these verses “your messenger” (verse 25). The Philippian church sent him to encourage Paul with a gift. We don’t know what the gift actually was but their message must have helped Paul feel encouraged in his prison trial.

How do you strengthen a friendship? Become a messenger!

Being the bearer of encouragement helps you become a faithful friend. Give someone hope. Send someone a Bible verse. Write out a prayer. Or maybe send a text of hope. Even better, a handwritten note! Send him or her a song that will be encouraging.

Or maybe go out and buy a gift. Ask the Lord to show you what your friend needs. A book? A devotional? A key chain? Or get even more creative. Maybe you read an encouraging story that reminds your friend. Cut it out and send it to him or her! AND then if you really want to go the extra mile, deliver it to him or her personally!

Tell your friend, “I was thinking of and praying for you and this came to mind. I pray it gives you hope.”

These are things that people have done for me over the years and each time it happens, it helps me! It encourages my soul just like it did for Paul!

Being a messenger of hope will draw you closer and closer to your friend and encourage his or her heart.

Messengers who come to us personally in times of need become great and close friends. Be that kind of friend to someone today!

Descriptions of a Faithful Friend: "My Fellow Soldier"

Proverbs 18:24 says, “A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”

Do you know what I have found to create the deepest of bonds between faithful friends? Even more than being a brother or a fellow worker? Someone who is a fellow soldier! It is the third term Paul uses to describe Epaphroditus in Philippians 2:25.

A faithful friend who is a fellow soldier understands that we are at war. There is a battle raging for souls until Jesus returns. A fellow soldier counts the cost of what is happening and sees the eternal victory. A fellow soldier is poised and ready for battle. A fellow soldier identifies enemies and threats and seeks to protect those around them. These traits make for a truly faithful friend.

Interestingly, Epaphroditus became ill while visiting Paul in the Roman prison. We don’t know exactly what the disease was, but it was serious. It almost cost Epaphroditus his life! But God had mercy on him (verse 27) and spared him.

Nothing will draw you closer to another than to go through a huge crisis together. And fight together for the victory. Epaphroditus cared for Paul in prison, not knowing if he was going to die and Paul cared for Epaphroditus in a near death illness, not knowing if he was going to die. They both learned how to fight for one another and contend for a breakthrough!

The fight against evil in this world is real. When you battle together with someone in spiritual warfare, fighting against the wiles of the enemy, and eventually overcome the problem, you tend to remain close to that person forever.

Look at people in your church as your “fellow soldiers.” Recognize that you are in a war. And as you fight and win together, you might just find another faithful friend!