In Colossians 4:7-9 Paul mentions people that were a part of his mentoring program. These men had earned a great deal of trust from Paul, not only in his praise of them but also in his trust of them to carry such a letter. After the resurrection Jesus didn’t start a seminary, He sent the Holy Spirit to empower and turned them loose on the world. Rabbis that examined Jesus methods and took note that although He had unlearned fishermen they marveled realizing that they had “been with Jesus”. Paul mentions three groups of people:
•People who STAYED
•A person who PRAYED
•A person who STRAYED
One of the men that stayed was Tychicus. His name means “fortunate” and in Acts 20:4 we are told that he was from Thessalonica and a part of the delegation that traveled with Paul as he took a love offering from the churches in Macedonia to the suffering church in Jerusalem. In 2 Timothy 4:12 we are told that Paul sent him to Ephesus to replace Timothy. In Titus 3:12 Paul was about to send him to the Island of Crete to help with the work there. Paul gives three descriptions of his character:
•Beloved Brother: Before Tychicus was noted for any other attribute he was a loving brother in Christ. Paul had taught him that the best way to be faithful servant and teach others is by a demonstration of love.
•Faithful Minister: Paul assesses the quality of his work and says that as a servant of Christ he was faithful. God doesn’t ask us to be brilliant, popular or eloquent, He asks that whatever the assignment He gives us we will be faithful to complete it.
•Fellow Servant: Finally Paul addresses the equality of the workers and says that Tychicus saw himself on the same level as everybody else. He didn’t see himself as over others but rather served as though he was under all. No wonder he was loved and seen as faithful. Jesus told his disciples in Matthew 23:8 “for one is your Master, and all are your brothers”.
It is interesting to note the priority of Paul’s assessment of Tychicus: What Tychicus did was not as important as the way in which it was done…as he performed his service in love. No matter what we are called to do in Christ’s service, “beloved” ought to be in front of it!