Philippians 2:19

All seek their own. That is the world we live in, and the reality is that this has been the way of the world for a very long time. It was that way 2,000 years ago. Sometimes, we can look back to the first-century world where the church was first birthed and think that everything was in perfect conditions, but the reality was, just like today, people at that time were self-seeking. All men seek their own.

In our modern day, marketing in our nation is geared towards the me-centric kind of carnality of our fallen human nature. We see the ad campaigns of companies for products, and the slogans are things like "Obey your thirst" and "Have it your way." I came across another slogan for a cosmetics company, and their slogan was "Because I'm worth it." That is the world we live in, constantly emphasizing this mindset.

We've talked about this a number of times, especially as we've been going through our current series in the book of Philippians. We live in a nation that highly values the individualistic pursuits of personal gratifying happiness. Most people think that this personal gratifying happiness will be found through some pleasurable experience. We have come to the point where some people are seeking those pleasurable, individualistic, self-gratifying experiences at whatever cost, even if it means the suffering of others and the difficulty and trials that others experience, all for the sake of personal gratifying pleasure.

All seek their own. It's not a new slogan; it's not a new truth. Three thousand years ago, Solomon, one of the wisest men who ever lived, wrote in the book of Ecclesiastes that there is nothing new under the sun. We all know that this is the case. All seek their own.

Two thousand eight hundred years ago, the prophet Isaiah observed the same thing. He wrote this as he looked at his own nation, the nation of Israel, specifically the people.

That lived in a region called Judah or Judea. He says they all look to their own way, everyone for his own gain. Could that not be written over our own nation in the 21st century? They all look to their own way, everyone for his own gain.

Before that, in the book of Judges, we read that everyone did what was right in his own eyes. People were seeking their own things, their own pleasure. We live in a nation that highly values that pursuit, that seeking for joy, for gratifying experiences, for pleasure, for happiness.

You wonder, how are we doing as a nation? It is interesting that in a nation that highly values the pursuit of joy, where more than 330 million Americans are endeavoring to pursue those things, we also live in a nation known for having the highest use of prescription antidepressants. Especially in the last decade or so, their use has increased exponentially. Now, more than one in ten Americans, as reported by The New York Times in a recent article, have been prescribed antidepressants. They are experiencing a lack of joy, a lack of happiness, and a lack of inner well-being.

This statistic does not take into account the multitudes of Americans who self-medicate with substances like alcohol. It is now reported that in the United States, individuals aged 15 years and older consume an average of two and a half gallons of pure alcohol a year. Additionally, the fastest growing industry in the United States today is legalized marijuana.

So, you look at our nation, and people are trying, however they can, to temporarily increase their sense of well-being, to temporarily increase happiness, or to deaden the depressed feeling, to get rid of anxiety and stress. People are turning to all kinds of different things.

What are we doing? Well, we're just pursuing happiness, right? Just trying to attain that which we are told is very highly valued. Over the last six weeks, we have been in the New Testament book of Philippians. You can turn there if you'd like. Philippians chapter 2 is where we are going to be today. It is right after the books of Galatians and Ephesians, near the end of your Bible. It was a letter written by the Apostle Paul 2,000 years ago to a church that lived...

In a city called Philippi, that's why it's called Philippians. Over the last six weeks, we've been spending our time together considering the issue of happiness and the issue of joy. This short letter, which consists of four chapters in our Bibles, has been called the biblical book of joy or the letter of joy for many years by the church. Although the author of the book was not experiencing the greatest circumstances in his life when he wrote it, he writes quite a bit about joy, peace, rejoicing, contentment, and happiness.

The conditions under which he wrote this letter did not seem to produce joy, peace, contentment, and happiness. This raises the question: how does one come into these things—peace, joy, contentment, rejoicing, happiness—when there are difficult things going on in their life? The Apostle Paul speaks about that. As we've been going through this letter, we've seen some important truths.

For instance, joy is not dependent upon circumstances. This is not what our culture tells us. Our culture suggests that we need to seek pleasurable experiences to be happy. We are encouraged to go to the happiest place on earth to find happiness. However, every parent knows that the happiest place on earth is not always the happiest place on earth, especially after receiving the credit card bill from that experience.

We are told to seek pleasurable experiences because that's where happiness is found. Yet, as we explore the scriptures, we discover that joy is not dependent upon circumstances. We have seen that joy can be exercised and developed. There are steps we can take to increase joy. Even in the opening words of this letter, we learn that lasting joy comes through grace by Jesus Christ.

Happiness begins with gratitude. It is found in service to God. Joy increases through prayer, while pride destroys joy and happiness. Conversely, humility increases the likelihood of experiencing joy and happiness. Additionally, we have seen that joy increases as we work for the joy of others. While we are often told to pursue our own joy, pleasure, and happiness, the Bible prescribes that we should seek and work for the joy of others.

As we continue today, we're going to build upon some of these important practical truths. Here in Philippians chapter 2, Paul really focuses attention on very practical steps that we can take to increase the experience of joy. I have made it clear before, but I think it's important to highlight that Jesus, in the Gospels, says, "I have spoken these things to you, the Gospel, his teachings, that my joy might remain in you and that your joy might be full." Jesus spoke the Gospel to us so that we would be those who experience joy.

As we've been studying here on Tuesday nights, and I hope that you will come out and study with us at 7 o'clock, we've been going through the fruit of the Spirit. If you've ever looked at Galatians chapter 5 and the fruit of the Spirit, the second one is joy. One of the evidences that God is in us—what the Christian is described as being, the temple of the Holy Spirit—is that we experience joy. Jesus said, "I have spoken these things to you, that my joy might remain in you and that your joy might be full."

Paul is speaking here about some very practical things that we can do to increase our experience of joy. In chapter 2 of Philippians, Paul lists three examples, three patterns, three individuals who are walking in such a way that moves in the direction of increasing joy and experiencing the abundant life. The first example we studied three weeks ago is found in Philippians chapter 2, verses 1 through 11, which talks about the example of Jesus. Paul says, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made himself of no reputation." Paul walks us through this process of humility and self-sacrifice that ultimately led to exaltation.

Now, it's really interesting because even many non-followers of the Bible, many non-Christians, think that Jesus was a good example. The dominant thing that people will say today, if you ask them in America if they are connected or affiliated with some religious institution, is that they are "spiritual." Even a lot of people who have never read the Bible or looked at the Scriptures think that Jesus was a good example.

Now, people who say that probably have never looked at any of the things that Jesus said or did, so they wouldn't really know that. However, they think that Jesus is a good example, and they're right. We are given His example here in this passage, but today we're going to focus our attention on two more people that Paul highlights as examples, as patterns that we should follow.

In the very next chapter, in Philippians chapter 3, Paul says to the church at Philippi to note those who walk like this, as you have us as an example. Paul gives us three examples: Jesus, and now another man by the name of Timothy, and another guy by the name of Epaphroditus. Paul is going to focus his attention in verses 19 through 30 on Timothy and Epaphroditus.

It is very interesting what he says about these individuals. In verse 19, he mentions that they are going to cheer Paul up and make him happier. In verse 28, they are going to make the church at Philippi happier, and also in verse 28, they are going to reduce Paul's anxiety. Those are good things: that Paul would be happy, that the church would be happy, and that their anxiety would be reduced. How many would say, "Yeah, I want to sign up for that?"

The example of these two guys is really important. Sometimes, when you read through the Bible, you come to certain sections and you scratch your head, wondering why they are included. It doesn't seem like they fit with the flow of the passage. This is one of those sections. As you're reading through Philippians, you come to these verses, verses 19 through 30, and it seems like they don't fit, but let's consider it together.

So, Philippians chapter 2, would you stand with me? We'll begin reading at verse 19. Paul says, "But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state. For I have no one like-minded who will sincerely care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus, but you know his proven character, that as a son with his father, he served with me in the gospel. Therefore, I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see how it goes with me. But I trust in the Lord that I myself shall also come to you shortly. Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, fellow soldier, but your messenger, the one who ministered to my need."

Since he was longing for you all and was distressed because you heard that he was sick, 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. Therefore, I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again, you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful. Receive him, therefore, in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem, 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.

Father, I pray that you would give us insight and clarity. Lord, help us to see application from your word as we study this section of Scripture. Let us see this pattern, these examples, and help us to put these into practice in our lives. Make us more like You. As Paul said, we are to be like-minded with You. Transform us by the renewing of our minds, by Your word and the work of Your Spirit. We pray this in Jesus' name, and all those that agreed said, Amen. You can be seated.

Just like there is an IQ, the intelligence quotient, researchers tell us that there is also an HQ, not headquarters, but a happiness quotient. In the same way that you can actually do tests to find someone's IQ, there are tests that have been written to determine a person's HQ, their happiness quotient. There are also steps that you can take, exercises that you can do, that might increase your IQ. Similarly, there are steps that you can take that will increase your HQ, your happiness quotient.

In this section of Scripture, as we've been seeing, Paul is laying out some steps that, if we take them, will increase our HQ. Many of these steps that Paul speaks of are not the kind of things that you would hear from people in the world. Those who tell us the steps to happiness often suggest that if you do this, this, this, and this, then you're going to be happy. Yet, we live in a world where people are constantly expressing their unhappiness. Their sense is not one of well-being and joy, but rather one of stress, anxiety, and feeling downcast.

And so Paul says there are steps that we can take to increase our happiness. He states in verse 19 of chapter 2 that he desires to be cheered up and that his joy would increase. We find an interesting thing that Paul is doing here as he sends Timothy to the church in Philippi. This is point number one on your outline: we need to take steps to be happy. I would even emphasize taking appropriate steps to be happy. We should take the right steps to increase our joy.

As we considered a few weeks ago, we should be those who are working for the joy of others. However, in this passage, Paul says, "I am sending Timothy to you for the very purpose that my joy would increase." This is a very practical way in which Paul's joy was going to increase. He explains that he is sending Timothy to find out how they are doing, to learn about their state, and to come back and tell him. When he hears about them, his joy will increase. Paul was taking appropriate steps to increase the likelihood that he would experience the joy of the Lord by sending Timothy to the church there.

This raises the question: what was it about Timothy that made him so special that Paul would choose to send him? Paul describes Timothy in verses 20 through 22, saying, "For I have no one like-minded who will sincerely care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus. But you know his proven character; that as a son with his father, he served with me in the gospel."

The first thing we learn about Timothy from Paul's writings is that he had the right mindset. In Philippians chapter 2, at the very beginning, Paul encouraged the Christians at Philippi to be like-minded with one another and to have the same love for one another. Then, in verse 5, he states, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." Paul implies that Timothy embodies this mindset.

There was someone who was like-minded with him, and ultimately, he would be like-minded with the Lord. He says there is no one else like-minded; he has no one like Timothy. The New Living Translation states, "I have no one else like Timothy." He was unique. Among all the other people that the Apostle Paul served with, Timothy was unique.

Why was he unique? What made him unique? Notice what he says right there in verse 21: "For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ." By implication, Paul indicates that the thing that's unique about Timothy is that he is not self-seeking; he is seeking the things that are of Christ Jesus. Paul says in verse 20 that Timothy genuinely cares about your welfare. He is sincerely and faithfully concerned about other people. This is unique in the world because most people, in fact, all people, seek their own interests. If left to ourselves and our fallen nature, we will all be self-seeking. We all know that's the case. Even though we try to cover it up and make it seem like we're not like that, at the end of the day, we all are. Even I, we are all like that. All seek their own. But Paul says, "Not Timothy." Timothy was unique. He was different.

In this, we learn a very important point about joy and happiness. It's point number two on your outline: true joy requires a shift of focus. We considered this a few weeks ago when we talked about Jesus, who, although He was there in heaven and is God, stepped down to earth in the incarnation. He humbled Himself to the point of being a servant, lowering Himself to the lowest position as a slave, as pictured in John chapter 13 when Jesus washes His disciples' feet. This is even more evident when He was crucified on the cross, laying His life down for us. The Creator comes and dies for His creation.

One of the points we hit on a few weeks ago is that we need to follow the path of Jesus. We need to follow that same path. If you are going to walk in the path of Christ and follow the example of Timothy, then we are going to need to shift our focus. If our focus by nature is to be self-seeking and self-serving, and all men seek their own, then to follow the pattern of Jesus and Timothy requires a change in our perspective.

This means that we need to shift our focus to the cares, the needs, the concerns, and the things of other people. Again, look back at Philippians chapter two, verse two. Remember what we studied a few weeks ago, if you were here. Paul says, "Fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, and being of one accord and of one mind." Look at the unity that he's calling the church to there.

Let nothing, verse three, be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility of mind, let each esteem others better than himself. In verse four, let each of you look out not only for his own interests but also for the interests of others. Would you circle the word "interests," which is used twice in verse four? That word "interests," used twice in verse four, is the very same Greek word that Paul uses here in this section that we're looking at today, where he says, "Let each of you look out." I'm sorry, where he tells us that we need to move our focus.

All men seek their own. Those words, "all men seek their own interests," is the very same Greek word that Paul uses there in verse four. We need to not seek for our own interests but for the interests of others. Now, Paul says of Timothy that he was one of those people who did that. He had shifted his focus.

As we discussed when we were looking at Philippians chapter two, verses twelve and thirteen, we trust that God is the one who works in us, enabling us to do these things. Because, as I said a moment ago, if left to ourselves, we just don't do this. But with the power of Christ in us, we can follow the example of Timothy, who had a shift of focus. True joy requires this shift of focus.

Not only did Timothy have the right mindset and the right focus, but he also had proven character. He had proven character, as Paul writes there in verse twenty-two. "But you know his proven character." Timothy was one who was approved. He had been tried and tested, and he had shown forth that he was in the right place, doing the right thing.

We are first introduced to this guy, Timothy, back in the book of Acts, in Acts chapter sixteen, which is the history book of the New Testament. Timothy was a convert to the Christian faith.

Because of the witness of his mom and his grandmother, Timothy grew in his faith through the ministry of the Apostle Paul, who shared the gospel and planted churches in an area called Galatia. Timothy grew up in the city of Lystra, which was in the region of Galatia. Acts chapter 16 tells us that during Paul's second missionary trip, he stopped in Lystra, met Timothy, and took him along to be a follower of the ministry, an apprentice in the work, and a servant alongside Paul.

Paul notes Timothy's proven character. But what kind of character did he have? In verse 22, Paul describes him as a son. He had the proven character of a son. With his father, he served with Paul in the gospel. Two key aspects demonstrated Timothy's character: he was a son in the faith and a servant of the gospel.

Later in his life, Paul wrote two letters to Timothy, which we have in our Bibles as 1 and 2 Timothy. While the titles may not be very creative, these letters are very personal. In the opening words of each letter, Paul refers to Timothy as his son in the faith. In 1 Timothy chapter 1, he states, "You are a true son in the faith." In 2 Timothy chapter 1, he calls him "a beloved son in the faith." Timothy came alongside Paul, walking with him like a family member, as a son in the faith.

In addition to being a son, Timothy was also a servant. The Apostle Paul, who wrote this letter, authored twelve other letters that we have in the New Testament. Two-thirds of the New Testament was written by him. In six of those thirteen letters, Timothy's name appears at the beginning, indicating his presence with Paul in the work of the ministry.

Even in the letter we are studying, if you flip back just one page to Philippians chapter 1, you will see in verse 1, "Paul and Timothy, bond servants of Jesus Christ." Timothy was a servant, a slave of Christ. He was trustworthy and had proven character. He was both a son and a servant in the faith.

Point number three on your outline is that there is no lasting joy apart from proven character.

Timothy, because of his relationship to the Apostle Paul and his service in the gospel, was tried and true. At this point in Paul's life, when he was going through a severe trial of his own—there he was in prison in Rome, facing the day of his trial and the potential of execution—who was with Paul? The faithful son and servant in the ministry, Timothy. Because of his proven character and who he was, Paul said, "Therefore, I'm sending him to you. This is the guy, because I have no one like him. I have no one else who will care for you in the way that you need to be cared for."

In verse 23, Paul expresses, "Therefore, I hope to send him at once as soon as I see how it goes with me, but I trust in the Lord that I myself shall also come to you shortly." You notice the "therefore" at the beginning of verse 23? It is there because of who Timothy was. Paul emphasizes that because Timothy is trustworthy and proven, he hopes to send him to the Philippians at once.

But not only Timothy. In Philippians chapter two, we have the example of Jesus, the example of Timothy, and now the example of a third individual. In verse 25, Paul writes, "Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, fellow soldier, but your messenger, the one who ministered to my need."

Timothy had the right mindset and focus, and he had proven character. Paul mentions five qualities about Epaphroditus in this verse: he was my brother in the Lord, a fellow worker in the faith, a fellow soldier in the fight, a messenger—literally, the word is "apostle" in Greek—and a minister. He was a brother, a worker, a soldier, a messenger, and a minister.

As I reflected on Timothy and Epaphroditus this week, these five qualities stood out to me. Point number four on your outline is that joy flows to and from active participants and not passive spectators. This is really important.

Joy flows to and from active participants and not passive spectators. This Christian life that we're engaged in, if we put our trust in Jesus, is not a spectator sport. Unfortunately, the reality is that there are millions of people in our nation and throughout the world who come to church as spectators week in and week out. Christian leaders for many years have made the tongue-in-cheek statement that the church operates on an 80-20 concept, where 20% of the people do 80% of the work. As time goes by, that 20% has actually decreased even further, to the point where it's now 10% of the people doing 90% of the work and contributing 90% of what is needed for the work of the ministry. This is a true observation.

Many Christians, by their own admission, would say, "I just don't know that I'm really experiencing this abundant life." They wonder, "Where's all the joy that I was told is in Christ?" I would say that true joy flows to and from those who are active participants and not passive spectators. So, might I, as your pastor, challenge you to get in the game and get engaged?

There was a man who was described as a brother. That's the first thing Paul says about him. He was a Christian, a brother in the faith. You might be a brother or sister; you're a believer who has put your faith in Jesus. But this man was not only a brother; it didn't stop there. Paul also described him as a worker. The Greek word translated as worker, ergon, involves energy and effort. Paul emphasized that he was engaged in the work.

Not only that, he was a soldier fighting the good fight of faith. He was a messenger, an apostle, one sent with a message. He was a minister who served the apostle Paul and took care of his needs. I don't think it's too far off to say that you will not experience the fullness of joy that is available to you in Christ if you're not engaged in the work of Christ, if you're not involved in serving Him and serving His people.

I had a great conversation for about 45 minutes yesterday with an Escondido police officer. No, I didn't get pulled over. I know some of you were thinking, "Oh, pastor," but that's not what happened. We've had a very interesting week.

Here at the church, I'll share some things with you so that you can commit them to prayer. A few days ago, some of our guys here on staff, Jason and Nick, found a nice little package for us in the parking lot. They opened up this basket with a white cloth tied off and blood all over it. Inside, they found a dead chicken with its head cut off, two dead fish, and pieces of coconut— all kinds of wacky things that looked like someone was putting a hex on someone. We called the cops, and they came, did a little incident report, and chucked it in the dumpster. I am thankful that greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.

Then yesterday, someone through social media started making some pretty serious accusations against me. In the middle of the day, I called the police department. My good friend, who is a detective with the family crime unit here in Escalito, said, "Well, here, make an incident report." When I came out here, the police just pulled up, and I saw that it was my good friend, Dave Bishop, who actually used to be a part of our church. He lives up in Valley Center, is a former U.S. Marine, and has worked for the Escalito Police Department for many years. He is a sniper for the SWAT team and a good guy to have on your team. He is also a Christian and wrote a book on apologetics.

For the last 20 years, Dave Bishop has been going to Camp Pendleton every Sunday afternoon to give the core values training to the School of Infantry. Every U.S. Marine Corps recruit that goes through the School of Infantry at Camp Pendleton, which is about 70% of the United States Marine Corps, has gone through his core values training class. That includes every one of those guys who has been fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq.

So, what is the core values training class? At the end of it, he sums it up and says, "Listen, the U.S. Marine Corps is built on three principles: God, country, core." He adds, "If you want to know about God, stick around. I have a Bible study for you." For the last 20 years, he has been preaching the gospel to all these recruits.

As he was taking the incident report, he said, "Hey, can we just talk for a little while and fellowship together?" I said, "Sure. You got time; I got time." He then mentioned that he needed us to pray and get the church to pray because they have a new commander over the School of Infantry who closed the door on the Bible study. Just two weeks ago, he said, "You can't do it anymore." So, pray because he is trying to work this out right now.

One of the things that Dave said to me was that he had a conversation recently with someone who was talking about experiencing joy as a Christian. Dave told him, "I never knew what joy was in Christ. I have a great wife, a wonderful family, and an awesome job. I love what I do, but I never knew..."

I experienced the fullness of joy until I stepped out and started serving the Lord. This is a good word, unsolicited and just coincidence. As I talked with Dave yesterday, I realized that you will not experience maximal and expanding joy that is available in Christ until you engage as an active participant in the work of the Lord.

Now, I don't know what that looks like; it looks different for every single person here because God has gifted, called, and given talents and unique gifts to each of you. However, He has a place for you in the work of the ministry. You will not experience expanding joy in Christ until you become an active participant in that work.

Paul says, "I considered it necessary to send Epaphroditus to you." Why? Look at verse 26: "Since he was longing for you all and he was distressed." The word could be translated as "depressed." Christians sometimes get depressed, and so he was depressed. Why? Because you heard that he was sick. He wasn't depressed because he was sick; he was depressed because you were concerned for him. Indeed, he was sick, almost to the point of death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but also on me, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.

Not only was Epaphroditus depressed, but Paul was sorrowful as well. Therefore, I sent him the more eagerly. I was passionate and excited about sending him to you so that when you see him again, you may rejoice and I may have less stress and anxiety, that I may have less sorrow.

Receive him, therefore, in the Lord with all gladness, and note this: hold such men in esteem 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. Epaphroditus was concerned about the people in Philippi. He was distressed on their behalf. Even though he was going through trying and difficult circumstances, he was distressed because of what they were experiencing when they heard that he was sick. Paul emphasizes that he was sick even to the point of death.

But God restored him. God healed him. God had mercy on him. One of the important things we find here in this passage, point number five on your outline, is that joy flows to and from selfless servants. Paul's exhortation to the Christians at Philippi 2,000 years ago, and if he knew about us, the Christians in Escondido, San Marcos, and Rancho Bernardo in 2015, was to let each of you look not only out for his own interests but for the interests of others.

Epaphroditus brought joy, gladness, and rejoicing to those in his life because he was a selfless servant. He was self-sacrificing. It is interesting to me that in our day, and especially over the last 25 years, we have been told that the way to experience an increase in well-being, happiness, and joy is to have better self-esteem. While I don't think we need to belittle ourselves, I'm not entirely sure that we need to do anything to build up our self-esteem, but that is what our culture is saying.

Notice what Paul says here. This guy was a self-sacrificing, selfless servant. If you were to do a psychological analysis on him, you might even say he seems to have low self-esteem, and yet he wasn't working for self-esteem. Paul says to the church there that this is the kind of guy you should esteem. This is the kind of guy that deserves your honor.

The greatest thing in the world is to one day hear Jesus say, "Well done, my good and faithful servant." It is striking to me that Jesus' disciples, especially during the last six months of His life, argued among themselves about who would be the greatest. They failed to recognize that the greatest in the kingdom of God was Jesus, the one who was with them. Instead, they argued about who would be the greatest and tried to hide this argument from Jesus.

Have you ever had your kids try to hide their arguments from you? The most striking thing to me is that when Jesus talked with them about this, He didn't rebuke them for desiring to be great. He told them how to become great. He said,

He who desires to be great in the kingdom of heaven might think that Jesus would say, "Stop it! Stop doing that! That's carnal! That's fleshly! That's pride!" However, He doesn't do that. He says that he who desires to be great in the kingdom of God should become your servant, the servant of all. This is the path to greatness in the kingdom of God. The greatest honor that you could ever hear would be to hear Jesus one day say, "Well done, my good and faithful servant."

There is a place for honor and esteem from one another within the body of Christ. Paul, in one of his letters to Timothy, says that those who serve in the word of God and preach should be worthy of double honor. In this passage, he emphasizes the kind of person you should honor and esteem—not the individual focused entirely on themselves and their self-esteem, but the person who works for the joy of others and takes the interests of others into account over their own. Paul states that this is the kind of person you should honor and esteem.

This perspective is contrary to just about everything we hear about the pursuit of happiness and joy in our culture. It suggests that the path to happiness and joy is to increase your self-esteem, position, wealth, and power. Yet, Jesus says, "No, give it all away." Next week, when we delve into Philippians chapter 3, we will see the same principle illustrated in the example of the Apostle Paul. He transitions from Jesus to Timothy to Epaphroditus, and then he shares his own example. He states, "Listen, if anyone could boast in their flesh, it was me." Despite this, he cast everything aside.

In his culture, people would have said that to be happy, you must hold on to your position and power. Paul, however, willingly gave it away because he counted it as rubbish in order to gain something so much better. So, make sure you come back next week to hear the conclusion of that part.

Listen, brothers and sisters, take the appropriate steps to be happy. But those steps involve shifting your focus from yourself to others. It involves being a part of the body of Christ as a servant, soldier, minister, and one who carries the faith. It requires being an active participant and not just a passive spectator in the work.

Walking contrary to what this world would say is the path, I think that the one who is the incarnation of joy, Jesus, probably has a little bit more authority on this topic than your average psychologist in the 21st century.

Would you stand with me as we close in prayer?

Father God, thank you for your Word. It is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, and by it, you instruct us. Sometimes you correct and reprove us, but Lord, you show us the right way that we ought to walk. I pray that we would take these things to heart and apply them this week.

Lord, help us to do that because by our own strength, we don't have any strength. So enable us, Lord, we pray. In Jesus' name, all God's people said, Amen. Thank you.