Philippians 2:28

‘I have sent him therefore the more diligently, that, when you see him again, you may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful.'

It would appear that Paul's fatherly heart had also been burdened because he had shared Epaphroditus' burden (Philippians 2:26), and because of the grief of the Philippians, so that he was eager to send Epaphroditus personally in order that they could see for themselves that he was now well again, in order that they might thus be filled with rejoicing. It was constantly his desire that Christians should have cause to be joyful (something deeper and longer lasting than happiness) as part of their testimony.