Descriptions of a Faithful Friend: “My Fellow Worker”

Faithful friends are hard to come by! They are the rare ones who weep when you weep and rejoice when you rejoice (Romans 12:15). They bear your burdens (Galatians 6:2). They challenge you to grow out of your sin and move into righteousness (Proverbs 27:6).

Paul had a faithful friend named Epaphroditus. He described him very intentionally in Philippians 2:25. First, as a brother. And secondly as “my fellow worker.”

What does this mean? As a fellow worker, both Paul and Ephaphroditus both shared in the common labor of loving and serving Christ. They worked together first in Philippi and then as Paul was in a prison in Rome.

Colossians 3:23 says, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.”

James 2:17 says, “So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”

Ephesians 2:10 says that we were “created in Christ Jesus for good works.”

Clearly work and actions are really important to God. And having a friend on the same page to work with and to work for the Lord makes for a special friendship!

When you are working with someone on a common mission to serve Jesus, it draws you closer together. That’s why sports teammates often remain friends for life. In some cases, they only play together for a few years in college (like I did with my UNC teammates), but they end up being friends forever. The common game trials and experiences draw the team together for life.

Paul and Epaphroditus labored together to plant the Philippian church. To reach souls for Jesus. To serve the needy. These experiences bonded them for life.

Get involved in a church. Find a project that brings people to faith in Jesus. Or serves the needs of the poor. Or cares for the sick. You will surely develop “my fellow worker” relationships, friendships that will last forever because you have labored together for the kingdom!

Descriptions of a Faithful Friend: “My Brother”

How many of you have a faithful friend? Someone who loves you, champions you, and desires God’s best for your life. Or maybe you are blessed enough to have two, three, or even more! Faithful friends are hard to come by and can only be proven through seasons of both trials and victories.

The apostle Paul had a friend like this. His name was Epaphroditus and you’ll find their story in Philippians 2:25-30. Paul described him in verse 25 as his “brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need.”

Epaphroditus came from Philippi to bring Paul a gift of encouragement when Paul was in prison, most likely in Rome, around 62 AD.

Paul genuinely loved and respected Epaphroditus. Paul used five terms to describe their friendship, the first one being “my brother” (Philippians 2:25). A faithful friend feels almost like a family member, and in some cases can even be better than a family member!

Although not biologically related, upon their salvation, Epaphroditus and Paul shared the same royal blood lineage of Jesus.

My family brother, Howard, was a dear friend for years until he passed away a couple of years ago. Our family connection made us naturally close. But his love for Jesus was what made our connection especially impactful. It was our royal blood connection that made our love for one another even deeper and something that will last for eternity.

Paul and Epaphroditus did not have the same family, but they shared a common love and commitment to Jesus. They were members of the family of God. They both knew God as their “Daddy” in heaven.

We all need an Epaphroditus! Friends in the church like he was to Paul. Brothers and sisters in Christ who can spur us on as we run this race.

With God as our Daddy, Jesus as our big brother, the family of God is the most powerful agent of hope to the world! When you have a friend like Epaphroditus was to Paul, you have a friend indeed!

Best of 2024: Bad Guys of the Bible, Zimri and Cozbi

This week we are sharing some of your favorite Moments of Hope from 2024. Thank you for taking a moment of your day to grow in your discipleship journey with us. To explore additional resources from Moments of Hope Church, please click here to visit our website.

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by David Chadwick

We have looked at some hidden heroes from the Bible this week. People who are probably not as known, but had a significant impact on the storyline of the Bible.

But I want to wrap up this week with another couple of bad guys. These are two individuals who tried to thwart all of the good in God’s story. Yet, in spite of their efforts, God was still able to work it out for his good.

Zimri and Cozbi. Two bad guys who were enemies to God’s heroes.

Their story is found in Numbers 25.

On the way to the Promised Land, the Midianites tried to entice the Israelites toward adultery and sexual infidelity. They began to worship the gods of Baal.

Satan has known for all of time that if you can’t destroy a nation from the outside, through invasion, then destroy them from within. Destroy their values. Morals. Principles. And that is exactly what the Midianite women did with the Israelite men.

A man from Israel named Zimri and a woman from the Midianites named Cozbi openly flaunted their sin among the Israelites. They even went into Zimri’s tent right next to the tabernacle, to sleep with one another.

Phinehas, who had a zeal for God’s holiness and righteousness, was so fed up with the open defilement against God’s laws that he went in and killed them both. He was actually rewarded by God for his holy fervor with a perpetual priesthood because he practiced God’s righteousness and holiness.

I find it interesting that God openly named these two godless sinners. Don’t let it shock you. All of our names are either written in God’s book of life or not. Every name in the world is known by God. And those who sin without being forgiven by Jesus will have a public reading of their names one day in judgment.

It’s a sobering thought for all to consider! Is your name in the Lamb’s book of life? Don’t wait to surrender your life to Jesus. When he saves you, you become one of his favorites and as he writes your name in the Lamb’s book of life, you are forever forgiven.