1: Tychicus – Totally Reliable
“All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord.” (Colossians 4:7)
Tychicus is described as a “beloved brother”. Paul wrote similarly in Ephesians 6:21: “But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things”.
“Beloved” is one person’s estimation of another, as opposed to self-praise. Tychicus was beloved because he was totally reliable.
What a marvellous ability – reliability! Some people envy another’s talent, such as at art, and wish it were theirs. Say, has anyone ever declared: “I would love to be reliable?” for the answer would be: “Well, be it!” It doesn’t require a University Degree. Just ask the Lord in earnest, saying: “Lord, I believe your Word. I trust your Word. Help me to commend it by keeping my own.”
The reliable are never forgetful hearers. Hear what James 1:25 says: “But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.” Such a man was Tychicus – now largely unknown, and yet he was wholly trusted by Paul. Surely it doesn’t take much to understand why.
Read: Colossians 4:1-9 and Proverbs 20:6.
