Saturday, 3 June 2017
Tychicus, a beloved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me. Colossians 4:7
This and the next verse are almost an exact repeat of Ephesians 6:21, 22. Tychicus would have been sent out with Paul’s letter(s) of instruction, and he would have carried along other information about how he was and what he was up to. This Tychicus is mentioned several times in the New Testament. He is found in Acts 20:4. There he is described as being a person “of Asia.” He was also accompanying Paul from Corinth to Asia. He is mentioned in Ephesians 6:21, 2 Timothy 4:12, and in Titus 3:12 as well.
In this letter, he is called “a beloved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord.” The word used for “minister” is diakonos. This is the source of our word “deacon,” and it comes from two separate words – dia, meaning “through,” and konis, meaning “dust.” Therefore, it is someone who scurries through the dust, and is thus a servant or a minister. In this verse, he is doing exactly what the name implies. He is traveling with the message through the dusty streets of cities for the benefit of the saints. This term is probably not being applied to him in the technical sense of a “deacon,” but rather it points to the duties which he is carrying out. He is ministering to Paul as a friend, a brother, a faithful minister, and a fellow servant.
It is this hardy soul who was with Paul in such a close relationship who “will tell you all the news about me.” Not only would he bring the beautiful epistle in his hands, but he would also tell all about how Paul was doing. He would also answer any further questions that would come about concerning Paul and his ministry.
Life application: How willing are you to relay the good news concerning the gospel to others? Tychicus was willing to travel by land and sea in order to get the news out to those who were hungry to hear it. Are you at least willing to share it in the circles you travel? Do the people at the restaurant you frequent even know that you are a Christian? Do the people you work with know this? Get the news out!
Lord God, how often we go to our favorite restaurant, to the same bank time and again, to our job each day… and yet, do the people at those places know that we are Yours? Have we ever taken the time to simply share the hope that we possess? We sure will talk about the politician that excites us, or the one we hate, but what about Jesus? Which is more important? Which is our life and hope? Help us in this Lord. Give us boldness to speak about the most important issue humanity will ever face – our saving faith in Christ. Amen.