When Others Disappoint


Philippians 2:19-30
19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. 20 For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. 21 For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know Timothy’s proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel. 23 I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me, 24 and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also. 25 I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need, 26 for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. 29 So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men, 30 for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.

All of us have shaken hands with that grim character disappointment. By definition disappointment happens whenever our expectations are not met. Our spouse doesn’t show up on time – we experience disappointment. Our children choose a less than ideal path – we experience disappointment. The doctor gives us a negative report – we experience disappointment. The list is endless.

This portion of Paul’s letter to the Philippians becomes very personal. He is speaking directly to the Philippians about his own situation and two of the men who have become his close friends and helpers, Timothy and Epaphroditus. As Paul sits in prison, awaiting trial, these two men become important and probably provided for many of Paul’s personal needs. Apparently Epaphroditus became quite ill and Paul feared he would die. Timothy’s importance to Paul cannot be overstated as Paul saw him as a son, having known him since his childhood and being well acquainted with his mother and grandmother. As you can see, these relationships were personal. In the midst of these verses we find Paul expressing his disappointment over the actions of some of his other fellow missionaries. He sees that their commitment levels are not what he would like them to be and this saddens him. “For they all seek their own interest, not those of Jesus Christ.” These words are almost bitter and filled with resentment. Even the Apostle Paul understood disappointment.

None of us are immune to being disappointed. And this train of thought leads one to consider those times we are disappointed with God. It happens all the time because we cannot help but have expectations of God, yet He is under no obligation to meet all of our expectations. He has bound Himself to being a Keeper of His Promises, but that in no way binds Him fulfilling our wants or desires for then He would only be a puppet on a string and God is in no way that type of object. Each of us can think of situations where God has not acted in accordance with our will and then we can become bitter and resentful toward Him. But, as is always the case, God is not in the wrong – we are. When I am disappointed with God it is my own reactions and presuppositions that need to be checked. It is also always good to remember that God is not disappointed with us because He knows everything and so has no expectations that can be dashed.

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