June 07 2026

Sunday June 07

A Balanced Christian

Philippians 2:25

Welcome to Pastor's Chat. Today we are continuing in Philippians 2, and we are looking at verse 25, where the Apostle Paul writes: “Yet I consider it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier.” This man appears only briefly in Scripture, yet he teaches us a tremendous lesson.

Epaphroditus no doubt lived in the area of Philippi. He was a follower of Christ, an exemplary Christian, and a man who lived a balanced Christian life. He was trusted by the people at Philippi. His name actually suggests that he was probably a full Gentile, unlike Timothy, who had a Jewish mother and a Greek father. Yet Epaphroditus was a man who loved the Lord Jesus Christ with all his heart.

He was trusted because of his faithfulness over the years. The believers at Philippi entrusted him with carrying a special gift—perhaps money or other valuable provisions—to the Apostle Paul while he was imprisoned in Rome. As we will discover in these verses, he also cared for Paul during his imprisonment. This is an interesting man whom we meet only briefly in Scripture.

Paul described him in three ways. First, he was a brother. That speaks of his fellowship with the Apostle Paul. Second, he was a fellow worker. That speaks of his labor. Third, he was a fellow soldier. That speaks of spiritual warfare. As we look at his life through these few verses, we find that he was a balanced Christian.

Some believers love fellowship but avoid service. Others work hard but neglect relationships. Still others enjoy debating doctrine but never reach lost people. Over the years, I have met many folks who become so interested in prophecy that they do not want the pastor to preach about anything else. Prophecy is all they want to discuss or study. But that is not the balanced Christian life. Epaphroditus maintained balance in his Christian walk. He loved God’s people. He worked for God’s kingdom. He fought for God’s truth. He was a fellow soldier of Jesus Christ.

This reminds me of the book of Nehemiah. As Nehemiah and the people rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem in fifty-two days, they faced constant opposition from their enemies. Nehemiah stationed the workers on the wall with a sword in one hand and a trowel in the other. They were working while remaining ready to battle at a moment’s notice. My friend, that is a good description of the Christian life.

The Christian life requires both fellowship and service. We also need to understand that we are engaged in spiritual warfare. We need accountability. A balanced Christian life includes worship, fellowship, evangelism, service, prayer, and Bible study.

I will never forget my very first semester at Lynchburg Baptist College—today known as Liberty University. We had a class co-taught by Dr. Elmer Towns and Dr. Jerry Falwell called The Balanced Christian Life. We used a book written by Charles Ryrie entitled “The Balanced Christian Life”. That class was one of my first introductions as a brand-new believer to what the Christian life should look like. It helped me understand the importance of balance.

At that point in my life, I was very interested in evangelism. But there is more to being a Christian than simply trying to get everyone saved. We need fellowship with one another. We need teaching from God’s Word. We need opportunities to participate in all the various aspects of Christian living—giving, prayer, Bible study, service, and worship. A balanced Christian life makes all the difference.

When one area is neglected, imbalance develops. We should constantly ask ourselves: Am I still growing in every area of my Christian life, or am I neglecting something important? My friend, let us make sure we are like Epaphroditus, living a balanced Christian life.

Let us pray. Father, help us become balanced Christians. Teach us to love Your people, serve Your kingdom, and stand for Your truth. Make us faithful workers and faithful soldiers of Jesus Christ. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

God bless and may you have a wonderful, wonderful day!