“For he [Epaphroditus] longed after you all” gives us in a way the atmosphere in which we find ourselves in the Epistle to the Philippians. Hearing that he was sick caused the anxious desire and longing from the human side. It is the affections drawn out the affections of the divine nature in operation.
“For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.”
Why did not the Apostle rejoice [that he was sick nigh unto death]? Did God have mercy on Epaphroditus in keeping him out of heaven? In the previous part of the epistle, Paul said, “To depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better.” God intends that these circumstances should produce certain results and certain exercises. Why did God allow that this dear servant almost lose his life in service? It may have been in order to exercise the affections of the Philippians.
Some say that no tears should be shed at a funeral. The Lord Jesus shed tears. It is out of balance. There is a lack of mingling divine and human sympathy with the people of God, but the two go together. When we were born again, we did not cease to be human and suppose that there was no old nature within. We ought to be human; nature has its proper affections and proper relationships.
Sometimes people say they are dead to nature. Have you a wife and children? Then you are not dead to nature. It is a muddling up of things. Scripture does not speak of being dead to nature. One gets stirred when hearing that this is considered the height of spirituality in the judgment of some. It is no such thing. “God had mercy... on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.”
There is a lack of entering into the actual circumstances of the saints. Some think it is spiritual to say, “All things work together for good,” but it is easy to say that when it is someone else passing through trial.
God allowed this devoted servant, devoted man, Epaphroditus, brother and companion in labor and fellow soldier, to be so exhausted with that journey that he was nigh unto death. This had divinely intended results both with the Apostle and the Philippians.
“Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labor, and fellow soldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants” (Phil. 2:2525Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labor, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants. (Philippians 2:25)).
This verse gives us the relationships: first, “brother,” then “companion,” which is the next best thing. Companionship is what the human heart values and cannot get along without. It is not good for man that he should be alone, and the heart that does not value human companionship in its proper place has something wrong with it. My “companion in labor,” servant, fellow soldier in conflict, “and he that ministered to my wants”: We get the Lord giving His aged, imprisoned servant cups of cold water to cheer him.
W. Potter (from Gathering Up the Fragments)