There are many famous leaders in the Bible such as Moses, David, Peter and Paul. Yet there are many others that are not as famous that were vital to the work of God happening. One such leader was Epaphroditus. Do you know his story? He played an important yet obscure role in the ministry of Paul and the Philippians. No books were written about Epaphroditus, he never wrote any books or made any speeches that we are aware of. What he did do was run from Philippi to Rome to join Paul who was in prison and minister to his needs. He also carried Paul’s letter to the Philippians back home with him. This is how Paul describes him in Chapter 2 verses 25-30:
- A People Lover – Paul calls him a minister. He had compassion for the people of Philippi and cared about them deeply. He also cared about Paul and was willing to serve him in whatever way he could.
- A Risk Taker – Paul calls him a fellow soldier. He risks his own life and safety in order to serve alongside Paul. He refused to simply look out for himself and play it safe.
- A Tireless Worker – Paul calls him a fellow worker. Paul mentions an illness he suffered from and that it was tied to his hard work. Even though he was suffering and ill, he continued to serve as best he could.
- A Servant Leader – Paul calls him a messenger. Paul encourages the church to welcome him like a hero. Epaphroditus both led and served as he became a spokesman for the church.
There are many people that work everyday in obscure ways that play a big part in the story God is writing. Leadership is not about position but influence with what we have been given. We are all called to love people, take risks for God, work hard and serve others. If we can do that consistently over time, the impact for God’s Kingdom can be great. Epaphroditus humbled himself to serve Paul. Paul in turn recognizes the contribution he made to his ministry. Our mindset as followers of Christ should be to humble ourselves and serve the people around us. It may go unnoticed by people, but it will not go unnoticed by God.