PHOEBE receives mention by Paul as "the succourer of many, and of myself also" (Rom.16:2). To appreciate Phoebe's work in this direction we must have before our minds the position that Paul and his brethren were placed in, which rendered them in need of succour. It was no honour, from the world's standpoint, to succour Paul. The estimation that the world placed upon him comes out in Paul's pathetic description of his sufferings. He was the subject of hunger, thirst, and nakedness, he was buffeted, of no certain dwelling-place, reviled, persecuted, defamed, and "made as the filth of the world, and the off-scouring of all things." Let us add to this the scorn which we know was heaped upon him by false brethren, and we shall have a little idea of the courage of the sister who had been a "succourer of many, and of myself also." Adam's descendants are all to a greater or lesser degree influenced by what onlookers will think, but this love of approbation is generally admitted to hold its greatest sway over women. In Phoebe, we have an exhibition of its direction in a right channel. She sought God's approval, not man's. Phoebe might have found many excuses for leaving Paul to himself. She might have argued that so many spoke against him that there might be something in it after all, and then, again, what would people say of her? But Phoebe did not give way to such thoughts. She displayed such firmness and strength of character as a full assurance of faith alone can create. She was prepared to judge for herself, and to judge righteous judgment. She knew that the apostle's career had been one of uprightness and fidelity, and she was determined to strengthen his hands, though whole quiver full of asp - poisoned arrows assailed him. We have not Paul in our midst today to succour, nevertheless, there are many of Paul's brethren and sisters who stand in need of help. Let us not withhold our help from them because the world or our friends will frown on us. There are few among us who do not have to perform some duty in opposition to the world's opinion. Some of us, perchance, belong to an ecclesia composed of few and poor brethren. Let us not be of those who love the praise of men more than the praise of Gad. If we would, under trying circumstances, act as Phoebe acted, we must cultivate an ever present recognition of Gad and of the reality of the reward which He has promised to those who obey Him.

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