-Like-minded is isopsycho, from isos meaning ‘equal’ and psyché meaning ‘soul’. It literally means equal souled. It is only used here in the NT. iIn this case, Paul is saying that Timothy has the exact same thoughts and feelings and convictions when it comes to others-first others-better. He is really and truly concerned about the concerns and needs of others, and there is NO ONE else like that around. His concern was genuine, sincere, not something pretend or temporary. That word is gnésios, and it means true born, legitimate. Often our concern and compassion is feigned or fleeting at best, born out of momentary obligation, or it is snuffed out altogether. IF we even slow down to see and stop long enough to help meet a need, we quickly move past and onto the next thing that concerns us, while the other person and their concerns recede into the long litany of fulfilled duties. We pretended to care or squeezed out a few drops of concern because we had to, because it was our job or perhaps because there was no one else. But Timothy’s concern for the Philippians was genuine and real.
-Concern is merimnao, which most often is negative. Usually God’s Word is telling us to NOT be concerned about things like when we will die or about our future or about having enough stuff for tomorrow or about how we look or about making others happy (Philippians 4.6, Matthew 6.25-31, Luke 12.26, Matthew 6.34, Matthew 10.19, Luke 10.41, 1Corinthians 7.33-34). These are things which can sometimes even be in control of us, even though they are mostly beyond our control. At their core we find the impulse where WE actually want to be in control of the things that concern us. And so here is another place where we need to let go. God is in control. He’s got this (Romans 6.28, Matthew 6.33). There ARE for us some exceptions for merimnao, however. We DO want to be concerned about the things of the Lord (1Corinthians 7.32)(part of fulfilling the first part of the great command - Matthew 22.37-38), and we DO want to be concerned about the well-being of others in the Body of Christ (1Corinthians 12.25), about the things that concern them (Philippians 2.3-4)(part of fulfilling the second part of the great command, to love our neighbor as ourselves - Leviticus 19.18, Matthew 22.39). Our goal would not be to try to merely make them happy per se, because that is out of our control past a certain point. Rather we are to be genuinely mindful of others’ needs and what is going on in their life, and to truly love them enough to serve them, to help meet some of their needs, to care about the things that they care about and take an interest in the things that concern them. This going-low serving definitely requires letting-go, letting go not just of my misplaced superiority and selfish pusuit of my own interests but of my need and desire to be safe, secure and in control. Others-centered. Others-first. For the sake of Christ. For real and not for show. Out of our heart and not out of obligation. Timothy was that way for real. How about you and me?
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