Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts.
Colossians 4:7,8
We all have a list of people who’ve made a big difference in our lives. It may include relatives that have shown special interest in you over the years. It might be a friend that was there during the most desperate of times in your life. It might be someone you worked with for many years. No matter where they come from, they’re very special. It doesn’t matter that they’re different from you. You might have only a few things in common. But that doesn’t matter.
That’s how Paul felt about Tychicus. We’ll call him Mr. T from here on because no one knows anyone named Tychicus. But I do have a friend named Tic who’s story I’ll save for another time.
When Paul thinks back on Mr. T, his memory is full of experiences that they shared together. Or he remembers the stories and accomplishments that others shared about Mr. T. Paul uses three terms to tell the Colossians about this guy that they were just meeting.
Dear brother – Like Paul, Mr. T was a Christian. In Jesus, they shared the same God. They were both born again. They shared the same spiritual DNA. In a spiritual sense, they shared the same umbilical cord. But he was more than just a brother, he was a dear brother. Someone who God loved and so did Paul. This love wasn’t some instant, shallow feeling. It was built over time. Brick-by-brick,
Faithful minister – Mr. T was someone who had a track record of working hard at sharing God’s word with everyone. At every opportunity, they’re always, always, always going to talk about who Jesus is and what he’s done through his one-time sacrifice on the cross. And there’s one other thing about Mr. T, he’s not afraid to stir things up a little bit. Not scared to kick up some dust with how he lives, moves, speaks, and acts for Christ.
Fellow servant – There are servants and then there’s fellow servants. Most Christians think of themselves as servants who follow directions and do what they’re told so long as it’s not too much. But Paul and Mr. T are really different. Deep down inside, both Mr. T and Paul are willing to do anything God says. Whatever God asks. Everything he needs them to do. Nothing was too much or out-of-bounds for God to ask.
Paul and Mr. T had so much in common. And these three things showed the deep love and respect that they had for each other. But more than this, they were both in the Lord. They were all on the same team. The same side. They were willing to do anything for the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
One of the big benefits of Paul sending Mr. T to the Colossians is that he’s going to encourage them. He’s going to stand next to the Colossians in all their trouble. He’s going to be on their team no matter who or what’s against them. Mr. T will have their backs, watching out for them.
There’s a scene in The West Wing where nothing’s been going right. Everything’s been blowing up in their faces. Their popularity and that of the President has been going down and down. They haven’t been able to accomplish anything. As a result, it looks like the President will only serve one-term.
Leo McGarry, the Chief of Staff, turns to everyone who works for him and asks them one question. Who do they work for and what are they willing to do? Each of them says that they work for the President of the United States. They serve at the pleasure of the President of the United States[1].
Individually and all together, there’s nothing, nothing, nothing that they won’t do for the President. This one scene, which only takes 23 seconds, cements their commitment to the President and to one another.
Doesn’t that sound great? Don’t you want and need people like this in your life? On your team? When everything seems like it’s falling apart, we look to God and people like Mr. T to hold us. To hold our lives together. Yes, we all want and need someone like this.
But the tougher question is who are you encouraging? Whose heart are you standing with? Where are the people that you’ll never abandon? Never let go of? Who are the people that can call you anytime? Day or night? And ask anything?
Just so you know, people like Mr. T are really, really, really rare. Some people go all their lives and never find anyone like Mr. T. And then, I’m sorry to say, most people will never be a Mr. T kind of encourager to anyone. That may be the saddest sentence I’ve ever written. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Jesus sent his encourager[2]. And we have the promise of Jesus that he will never leave us. So, with Jesus’ promise, let’s start reaching out and encouraging the hearts around us. Just like Mr. T.
Noodling Questions
Who’s a “Mr. T” to you in your life? Explain.
What’s stopping us from serving at the pleasure of the King of the Universe?
Name three people that God wants you to be more encouraging to.
[2] John 14:16
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