All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord. Colossians 4:7
Bible scholars speculate that Paul might have been in prison when he wrote his epistle to the Colossian Assembly. We are not sure, but we do know that wherever Paul was, there was plenty of activity; there would be plenty of details for Paul to pass on to the folks to whom he was writing. But he doesn’t include those details; he merely informs the Colossians that Tychicus will give them a report and answer all their questions. This shows us two things. Firstly, Paul wanted the Colossians to have a full report as to his ‘state’. Secondly, he fully trusted Tychicus to be complete and accurate in his report. He certainly gives Tychicus a glowing recommendation as he sends him to Colosse. Would you or I have received such a recommendation if we had been the messenger sent by Paul?
The first thing Paul commends Tychicus for is being a beloved brother. That is no small role. In his work, and in his prison situation, having someone nearby who had a sincere care and interest in him was precious to Paul. They no doubt had spent time together, sharing the things of the Lord and of His work, appreciating the fellowship and the interest that each had. Tychicus knew all about Paul’s ailments and most likely had ministered to his needs. Their handshakes would be hearty and their hugs frequent, as they would openly express their affection. What a nice example their relationship is for us, in our interactions with fellow believers. There ought to be true affection among us, and a sharing of thanksgiving for our blessings in Christ, as well as a sharing of prayers for each other. Paul loved Tychicus; do we love our fellow believers?
One of the things that Paul appreciated about Tychicus was his faithfulness in his ministry for the Lord. He was fervent in his preaching of the Gospel and he was forthright in his ministry to the saints. As he would listen to Tychicus, Paul would often nod and utter a hearty ‘amen’ to his friend’s utterances. The doctrine that was so important to Paul was in safe hands with Tychicus, and Paul appreciated that. How often do we tell those who preach the Gospel and minister to the saints that we agree with them and appreciate their faithfulness? It would encourage them if we did.
The term ‘fellowservant’ is a good one as it describes the relationship between Paul and Tychicus. Just as important as their relationship with each other was the relationship they shared with their Lord. They served the same Master. Whatever they did together was in harmony with their submission to the Lord Jesus. That is a concept that we do well to remember in our relationships with other Christians. Because we serve the same Lord, we ought to have the same spiritual interest and goals. It was a precious relationship to Paul; it can be a special relationship to us.
Are there other Christians in whom we can see the qualities that Paul saw in Tychicus? Are their other Christians who can see in us those same qualities? – Jim MacIntosh