Marks of a Faithful Disciple, #3

We finish our consideration of a faithful disciple from the life of Tychicus.

4. He Is Faithful for Life

The passages that mention Tychicus show a chronological progression. Tychicus is first mentioned in Acts 20:4 (about 56 AD). Paul refers to him in Ephesians 6:21 and Colossians 3:7 (about 61 AD) during the apostle’s first imprisonment in Rome.

Paul mentions him further in Titus 3:12 (65 AD) and at the end of his life in 2 Timothy 4:12 (68 AD).

Those references cover twelve strategic years of Paul’s ministry. Tychicus was consistent the whole time. He didn’t start, flourish for a while, and then stop. He was faithful. For life.

Paul’s affirmation of Tychicus is more significant than it may seem at first glance. Paul wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

Paul expresses God’s assessment of a faithful disciple.

God places great value on faithfulness and rewards it richly. No doubt Tychicus heard these words when the Lord received him after he finished his work on earth:

Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your Master (Matthew 25:21).

Those words can be your inheritance, too. If no one seems to notice your service, take heart. Your heavenly Father sees. He rewards.

And He never forgets.

Let that motivate in your most humble Christian service. Put your eyes on Christ and persevere.

Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary (Galatians 6:9).

Be faithful in your every task, particularly in your ministry here at our church.

Your faithfulness matters. Your faithfulness has a great reward.

What do we take away? We’ll give Paul the final word:

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:57-58).