“Welcome him in the Lord with great joy and hold people like him in honor, 30 because he came close to death for the work of Christ (Philippians 2:29-30)
Clearly it is God’s will and plan for His kids to live in community, helping and encouraging one another, and “all the more as you see the Day approaching” (Heb 10:25). Saints give to various degrees, some more, some less. Jesus said that those who are forgiven much love much. To the extent that we grasp the richness of the truth of the Gospel, of His great mercy extended to us in spite of our unworthiness is the extent to which we are willing to go the extra mile for our brothers and sisters.
It’s that kind of radical love that God showed us that we are called to exemplify—the self-sacrificing kind. That is seen here in Paul, Timothy, and in particular Epaphroditus. The text says that He almost died doing the work of Christ. That’s how much he loved! May we all be challenged by Love and be willing to serve to that degree, for in doing so we bless and nourish the Body, we honor the Lord, and in turn we are honored.