29 Receive him then in the Lord with all joy, and hold men like him in high regard; 30 because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was deficient in your service to me.
Receive them back—that is the message from our passage—one of the clearest, most succinct teachings on treatment of returning missionaries. In Epaphroditus’ case, he had become sick to the point of dying but God had healed him. The human tendency would be to see Epaphroditus’ mission tour as over, illness having cut it short, and now life would go back to “normal.” While details are lacking, enough is said to indicate a great sacrifice had been made, nothing would ever be normal again.
When missionaries leave home today, the sacrifices are greater than most realize. Leaving careers behind is no small thing. Even those who serve short term (a few years) are set back enormously in their financial prospects. Consider missionaries who have served their entire life at great deprivation of things that everyone else so easily takes for granted, and return home at an advanced age with health issues. Their work has not been of the sort that makes for “cutting edge” missions promo campaigns. How many are forgotten in nursing homes or are being looked after by a few younger relatives who see them as a burden?
Paul says to “receive” them back and to “hold them in high regard.” This latter idea could be translated to “honor them.” Interestingly, a closely related word was used in 1 Timothy 5:17 and translated “honor” in reference to financial support for those who teach and rule well in the local church. Churches should financially support their sick and elderly missionaries, especially those unable to continue serving “in the field.”
Behind this emphasis is the “sending” and “receiving” that takes place with mission work. Epaphroditus was sent out by the Philippians as their “messenger and minister” to Paul’s needs (Phil 2:25). His work was “to complete what was deficient” in their service to Paul (vs. 30). This is at the root of New Testament missions work. A missionary is one who serves as a representative, an extension of the church. As such, the sending church should fully receive the missionary back with great honor and respect, for he was serving in their place. Every missionary effort requires both those who send and support, and those who go! Even Paul had the church at Antioch, which was God’s vessel for sending him and Barnabas out on the first missionary tour (Acts 13:1-4). In the greatest sense, mission work is a team effort.
Lord, I confess my lack of honoring “retired” missionaries, those no longer able to serve as they did in younger years. Thank You for their sacrificial service.
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