Faithful friends are hard to come by! They are the rare ones who weep when you weep and rejoice when you rejoice (Romans 12:15). They bear your burdens (Galatians 6:2). They challenge you to grow out of your sin and move into righteousness (Proverbs 27:6).
Paul had a faithful friend named Epaphroditus. He described him very intentionally in Philippians 2:25. First, as a brother. And secondly as “my fellow worker.”
What does this mean? As a fellow worker, both Paul and Ephaphroditus both shared in the common labor of loving and serving Christ. They worked together first in Philippi and then as Paul was in a prison in Rome.
Colossians 3:23 says, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.”
James 2:17 says, “So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”
Ephesians 2:10 says that we were “created in Christ Jesus for good works.”
Clearly work and actions are really important to God. And having a friend on the same page to work with and to work for the Lord makes for a special friendship!
When you are working with someone on a common mission to serve Jesus, it draws you closer together. That’s why sports teammates often remain friends for life. In some cases, they only play together for a few years in college (like I did with my UNC teammates), but they end up being friends forever. The common game trials and experiences draw the team together for life.
Paul and Epaphroditus labored together to plant the Philippian church. To reach souls for Jesus. To serve the needy. These experiences bonded them for life.
Get involved in a church. Find a project that brings people to faith in Jesus. Or serves the needs of the poor. Or cares for the sick. You will surely develop “my fellow worker” relationships, friendships that will last forever because you have labored together for the kingdom!