As I meditate on this passage, something clearly stands out in Paul’s description of Timothy….

Philippians 2:19-24

“I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know Timothy’s proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel. I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me, and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will also come.”

Timothy is clearly not self centered. He is also not just others centered. Paul states here that Timothy is Jesus centered!  

The ‘why’ behind Timothy’s genuineness is Jesus and His Agenda and advancing His Kingdom and doing all of this His way. Paul states that he has no one else like this! He describes how critical this Jesus centered focus is in…

Galatians 1:10

“For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I still trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.”

Timothy, like his mentor Paul, is a servant of Christ and this is the ‘why’ behind his genuine concern for others and why Paul can send him on this mission with confidence. 

*Reflection: I can get off track if I am simply being others centered. My focus must be on Jesus and on His interests.