Where in the World is My Joy? 8

Change Your World with a Relationship

If there is one thing we all can (maybe?) agree on is that this world sure could use some changing.  I know, it is changing every moment of every day.  I mean changing for the better.  We all want the world to change, but it is so dang big that just one of us cannot change the world, especially if we are alone. 

In Philippians Paul talks about two friends who helped him change the world around him.  These guys came along with Paul on his journey to change the world.  Paul learned quickly that anything of lasting value cannot be achieved alone.  Timothy and Epaphrotidus join Paul to change the world around them.  They do four things to change the world close to them.

They care for other people more than themselves

 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon. I will be happy to learn how you are. I have no one else like Timothy, who truly cares for you.                                                                                        Philippians 2:19-20 (NCV)

Timothy let his concern for others push him in his life. Paul has taken Timothy on has a student so that he can change Timothy’s life.  He ends up writing him two heartfelt letters expressing his joy in seeing Timothy’s growth and life being given for other people.  To change anyone’s world you have to actually give a damn about them.  That is the first thing other people want to know about us.  Do we care for them?  Are we invested in their best? 

They share the story of Jesus with people

Other people are interested only in their own lives, not in the work of Jesus Christ. You know the kind of person Timothy is. You know he has served with me in telling the Good News, as a son serves his father.                                                                                                                        Philippians 2:19-22 (NCV)

Timothy realizes that to sharing the story of Jesus with others is the greatest way to change a person life.  The realization that a relationship with Jesus can and will change someone’s life in ways they never saw coming.  As a kid growing up people shared the story of Jesus with me and I will never forget the acts of love and kindness that they showed me on my journey to faith.  There is no greater love we can show someone else than to share the good news of God’s love with them.

Give your life serving the people who need you

Epaphroditus, my brother in Christ, works and serves with me in the army of Christ. When I needed help, you sent him to me. I think now that I must send him back to you, because he wants very much to see all of you. He is worried because you heard that he was sick.                          Philippians 2:25-26 (NCV)

Epaphroditus is a friend that Paul had made in his journeys and starting churches.  He cares for a church, and they have sent him to help Paul.  We need to be sure that we spend our lives helping the people who need help. This brother in Christ is there when Paul needed it most, but Epaphroditus thinks of those who are at home.  He does not want to be a burden to them.  That is part of serving others; making their lives better because of what we do and how we treat them.

Be the one that brightens the room you walk into

Yes, he was sick, and nearly died, but God had mercy on him and me too so that I would not have more sadness.  I want very much to send him to you so that when you see him you can be happy, and I can stop worrying about you. Welcome him in the Lord with much joy. Give honor to people like him, because he almost died for the work of Christ. He risked his life to give me the help you could not give in your service to me.                                   Philippians 2:27-30 (NCV)

Everyone brightens a room.  Some people do it when they walk in, others when they walk out.  Epaphroditus brightens the lives of the people back home, and yet he is a light that shines the brightest when he is near.  Paul is torn about sending him home, because he makes life so much better for him.  If we could all have a friend like that our lives would be changed every day.

If you want to change the world around, you find a friend or group of friends to live life with.  Most of all we need to decide to be the change we want to see.  I know you are thinking that I could not be cheesier.  But it is true that if we want to see things change, we have to get involved in the process.  So find someone to change the world with and make all the difference you can.