Sorrow Upon Sorrow

(Php 2:25) Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.
(Php 2:26) For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick.
(Php 2:27) For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.
(Php 2:28) I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful.
(Php 2:29) Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation:
(Php 2:30) Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me.
    In this passage, we see Paul speaking of Epaphroditus, who is not mentioned in Scripture outside of Philippians. However, we see that Epaphroditus is very important to the Apostle Paul, and he gives several characteristics of this man of God in verse 25:
    1) He is a Brother in Christ.
To be called a "brother", one must know the Lord Jesus Christ, and be saved. Epaphroditus is a Christian.
    2) He is a Laborer in the Work.
He was not a "pew warmer." Epaphroditus was doing more that showing up to church, filling his spot in the pew and coming just to leave like average Christians today! He was not lazy.
    3) He is a Soldier in the War.
Paul knew better than most that the Christian life was a constant spiritual battlefield. Epaphroditus was enlisted in the Army of God, and remembered by Paul as a key figure in the spiritual warfare.
    4) He is a Messenger to the World.
(Php 4:23) The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. To the Philippians written from Rome, by Epaphroditus.
This letter to the Philippians was written by Paul, however as stated in (Phil 4:23), it was penned by his servant Epaphroditus from Rome. Because of this we know that he was with the Apostle Paul on this journey because Paul wrote this letter while imprisoned in Rome. In (Phil. 2:25) Paul said, "Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus..." Epaphroditus shared the heart of Paul, one that longed to reach the world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
    5) He is a Minister to the Church.
The word "minister" literally means to "serve." Epaphroditus gave his health, and was willing to give his life to serve the Apostle Paul, and the church at Philippi. His burden and heart was for the Philippians.
    I find it very convicting that the Apostle Paul said that God had spared His servant Epaphroditus for not only himself, but Paul as well. Paul said that he would not have "sorrow upon sorrow." I wonder; what would the man of God feel if I were to pass to eternity? Would my life be one that caused sorrow upon sorrow, or would it be just another average church member that "we'll all miss?" How will the man of God remember you? What are you doing to serve where you are right now? Who will miss you when you're gone? Can you be called a "necessity", or are you just a "pew warmer?"