腓立比书是一封感谢信，保罗收到腓立比教会送来的两件礼物，所以他写信感谢。第一个礼物是金钱奉献。腓立比教会为了感谢保罗把福音传给他们，决定以金钱支持保罗的工作，其实保罗从未跟他们要求过任何事情。主动奉献金钱支持保罗继续传道事奉的，只有腓立比教会。

第二个礼物是一位名叫以巴弗提的管家，他不但从腓立比教会带奉献来给保罗，还带着管家的技能留了下来，照料保罗的生活起居。保罗这时人在罗马，在捆锁之中。虽然保罗被允许住在自己的租来的房子里，但手上还是带着锁链，生活起居难免有不方便之处。因此腓立比教会认为最好的方式就是派一个人去照顾保罗，于是他们差遣了一位管家。

保罗这样形容他跟以巴弗提的关系：「他是我的弟兄、同工和战友，是你们差遣来供应我需要的。」（2:25）这句话里面提到信徒之间的四重关系：「我的弟兄」指家人的关系，「我的同工」指事奉上的关系，「我的战友」指属灵争战里面的关系，「你们差遣来供应我需要的」指彼此关心照顾的关系。这让我们看见信徒之间若要有健全的关系，应该至少建立在这四个面向。

弟兄姐妹之间不只要在上帝的家里面如家人般的亲密相处，也要一起事奉、一起争战、彼此关顾，这才是圣经里面所描绘的「正常的」信徒关系。我们也必须明白，比起奉献更重要的是事奉，亲身参与在事工当中，与传福音的事有份，一起进行属灵争战，这是我们所能献上的最美的祭，也是上帝所喜悦的「活祭」。

简体圣经 | https://www.bible.com/bible/140/PHP.2.RCUVSS

繁體聖經 | https://www.bible.com/bible/139/PHP.2.RCUV

The book of Philippians is a letter of gratitude. Paul received two gifts from the church in Philippi, and he wrote this letter to thank them. The first gift was a monetary donation. The Philippians decided to support Paul's work with money as a way to thank him for bringing the gospel to them, even though Paul never asked them for anything. They voluntarily gave money to support Paul's ministry, and no other church did this.

The second gift was a servant named Epaphroditus. He brought the donation from the Philippians to Paul and stayed to take care of Paul's needs. At the time, Paul was in chains in Rome, and although he was allowed to live in his rented house, he still wore chains and had difficulties with daily life. Therefore, the Philippians thought the best way to care for Paul was to send someone to look after him, and they sent a servant.

Paul described his relationship with Epaphroditus as "my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need" (2:25). This sentence mentions four relationships among believers: "my brother" refers to the relationship of family, "fellow worker" refers to the relationship of service, "fellow soldier" refers to the relationship of spiritual warfare, and " your messenger and minister to my need" refers to the relationship of caring for one another. This shows us that if believers want to have a healthy relationship, they should build it on at least these four aspects.

Brothers and sisters in Christ should not only be close to each other like family in God's house, but also serve together, fight together, and care for each other. This is the "normal" relationship among believers depicted in the Bible. 

We must also understand that service is more important than giving, to personally participate in the ministry, to have a part in sharing the gospel, to fight together in spiritual warfare. This is the most beautiful sacrifice we can offer and is the "living sacrifice" that pleases God.

Reading the Bible | https://www.bible.com/bible/59/PHP.2.ESV