Esteeming Self-Sacrifice

The interaction and dealings between Paul and Epaphroditus continue to be examples of self-sacrifice in very trying circumstances. Their genuine sacrifice for others did not flow out of comfort and abundance, but out of extreme hardships and their sacrificial actions worsened their personal positions. What we have in these verses are amazing examples of people who, in the complexities of life, demonstrated what it looks like to have the mind of Christ. They show us what self-sacrifice looks like; it is not romantic and it is certainly not easy, yet it is glorious. Paul exhorts us to esteem those who sacrifice their lives in this way for the Lord. We become like those whom we esteem and thus he tells us to esteem self-sacrifice.