Epaphras; Combining an Occupation With Service

 •  2 min. read  •  grade level: 5
If we have any right views of what the church of Christ is, every one will be bound by love to serve in some way. The preciousness of the church is shown in this, "He loved the church, and gave himself for it." His love never changes—"strong as death" will be marked by-and-by. There is individual love to serve one another. This is not what is spoken of; but love to the Lord must bind us to wish to be servants to the body. We are bound up one with another. One's desire to serve is often checked by the thought of how little we can do. Epaphras entered as much as was possible into the mind of God about service -as much as Paul did. "Continue in prayer" &c. (Col. 4:22Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; (Colossians 4:2)); making the effect of his ministry hang upon their prayers. Apostle as he was, it might have been thought he could not need prayer. Here is the zeal of a man, perhaps lying on his face all day -no great zeal it might be said, but having the muster-roll of God's saints before him; feeling wearied perhaps—but no, there's another and another of God's saints I must pray for. This was the particular path of Epaphras (perhaps Epaphroditus the same). We do not find him standing in any other place of service but this; laboring that the saints might be perfect and completes in all the will of God. It may be that in which we are most lacking—no eye but God's—courts no public praise—no bustle—no activities—is like the fiber to the root of the plant. "Rejoice evermore; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks." Closer connection between these three than our souls are wont to acknowledge. Joy will ever rise in proportion to prayer and thanksgiving.
[Date unknown.]