Unforgettable
Nat King Cole made the song “Unforgettable” famous. It was a love song that helped to solidify his name across the USA and beyond. Not many however could name the writer of that song without a web search. Irving Gordon. Now you wouldn’t know it, but he wrote for a number of well known singers. Without him, it may have been a different story for some of those famous singers.
Biblically, we know about the likes of Paul, Peter, John, and others. But what about Tychicus? He is for sure, a back page story. A nobody. He is mentioned a whopping five times in the New Testament (Acts 20:4; Eph 6:21; Col 4:7; 2 Tim 4:12; Titus 3:12). Tychicus is one of those names you kinda breeze on by when you read it and don’t ever think about it afterward. (I don’t see too many parents calling their kids Tychicus…which would be kinda weird as I think about it.) He wasn’t necessarily the main point, but that is the point. God made sure his name was recorded for us to ponder today.
He most likely delivered a number of Paul’s letters. He accompanied Onesimus, the runaway slave who had converted, back to Colossae and most likely delivered the letter to Philemon. Paul must have had an immense amount of faith that Tychicus could handle some difficult pressure-packed situations. He also, most likely, delivered Paul’s letter to the Ephesians since it is believed he was from that region. According to many scholars, Tychicus was Paul’s scribe for the letters to the Ephesians and Colossians. I wonder if Paul had conversations with him about the message he had to deliver to those churches? More than likely, Tychicus was the first to read the letters to the churches when he delivered them. After all, he was the face and voice of Paul since Paul couldn’t be there. Paul had a big ’T’ trust in this faithful follower of Jesus.
Tychicus found himself at the center of much of the early history of the New Testament church. He didn’t see himself as making history so much as being faithful with the little he had, and ultimately it multiplied beyond his comprehension. He was just being faithful. I’m reminded by Matthew:
“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!”
Oh….to hear that from the lips of his Lord and Savior Jesus when he had faithfully finished his time on this earth. I long for that. Do we thirst to hear that from our Savior’s lips? Where is our primary focus in life here and now? Is God’s focus bigger than what this earthly life promises? Is our “well done good and faithful servant” focus, on our service or rather on our overflowing love to serve our Lord and Savior?
How many Tychicus’ do we have here at the Bridge? The folks making the coffee on Sunday, nursery workers, children’s ministry workers, youth workers, greeters, sound crew, church secretary, counseling team, prayer warriors that are on their knees lifting up folks in the confines of their dwelling places, the missionaries, and many other folks that are behind the scenes. The seeming nobodies in this upside-down world.
In our upside-down world we tend to value entertainers, sports figures, and even big-name pastors far more than folks who call us to holiness and are faithful servants of our mighty God. Within the church, social media, podcasts, and conferences have the ability to create celebrities. Jesus uses the weak things…..1 Corinthians 1:26-30:
For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
We need the Tychiucus’ who desire to make the gospel known more so than themselves.
Prayer
Father God, please right side our attitudes, our minds, and our efforts for You, and lay them down at your feet. You have everything, but you want our hearts above all else. You and only you deserve the praises and accolades. May they flow from our hearts to you our Father. May we serve you all our days with hearts that are overflowing with gratitude for you.
