“If the Lord Jesus is willing, I hope to send Timothy to you soon for a visit. Then he can cheer me up by telling me how you are getting along. I have no one else like Timothy, who genuinely cares about your welfare. All the others care only for themselves and not for what matters to Jesus Christ. But you know how Timothy has proved himself. Like a son with his father, he has served with me in preaching the Good News. I hope to send him to you just as soon as I find out what is going to happen to me here. And I have confidence from the Lord that I myself will come to see you soon.” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2:19-24‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Paul had genuine, fatherly love for the Philippian believers. His ministry to them was more than a "rung on the ladder" to the next level of ministry success. His heart was where it was supposed to be: the souls of men. Some preachers, particularly in America, seem to be bent on becoming the next great spiritual "phenomenon". Their motives seem to be popularity, large crowds, and personal gain. This is often done at the expense of compromising the truth. They are always looking for the next promotion. If a better offer comes along, they are gone in a New York minute. Not Paul. He poured his life into the church. After all, isn't that what Jesus did?? He also had a faithful, solid "son in the faith" named Timothy. The name itself literally means "honoring God" (Greek name "Timotheos" from the two words "Timao" and "Theos"). Timothy was recognized by Paul in Acts 16:1-5 for his outstanding Christlike character and was invited to join Paul's ministry team. Timothy remained faithful through thick and thin, good and bad, sickness and health, prosperity and adversity. He was a genuine servant of the Lord Jesus Christ. Oh, to have more like Timothy. Young men who simply want to serve under the leadership of a godly mentor with no ulterior motive. Men who want to serve Jesus more than their own personal success. We need more Timothy's.
Paul wanted to send Timothy as a trusted ministry partner to check on the Philippian church and return with a report. The Philippian church already knew Timothy's trustworthiness. What is your character like? Can you be trusted in the things of the Lord or are you just an "ecclesiastical hitchhiker" (from the book "Disciplines of A Godly Man" by R. Kent Hughes) always looking out for a better ride??