Philippians 4:3 “And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.”
Those who can “help” others, especially those who are faithful in service to our Lord, ought to do so to the best of their ability. The “true yokefellow” was obviously known to be a faithful and committed servant of the Lord and was in a position to see that those in need were helped. The word that is translated “help” connotes taking charge of, to guard over them, and to satisfy their natural needs; such as, food, clothing, housing, etc. These “women” had faithfully “laboured with” Paul and “with Clement” and with others “in the gospel”, and thus ought to be helped in their time of need, whatever it was. There were virtually no government or social programs to help folks as we have today, it was the Church’s responsibility to care for needy folks, most especially for those who had faithfully served the Lord. The early Christian Church owned this responsibility from its beginning (Acts 6:1-7). Caring for folks in this manner is the fruit of God-given love; that is, it is Love In Action, love that is seen in the things people do and how they do it. God gives us this blessed love when He gives us Spiritual Birth (John 3:1-8) and Paul, in I Corinthians 13, charges us to act upon this love (“charity”). There is great peace and joy in a Church where such love is openly and strongly manifested!