There are a number of people that are mentioned in scripture. Some are spoken of often, while some are only mentioned once or twice. There is a man named Tychicus that is mentioned 5x in the New Testament. Four of those occurrences are by Paul in his letters, and the other one is in the book of Acts. When you examine all of these passages, there is a great lesson that can be learned from this less-known brother.
- Acts 20:1-4 – “After the uproar had ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and when he had exhorted them and taken his leave of them, he left to go to Macedonia. When he had gone through those districts and had given them much exhortation, he came to Greece. And there he spent three months, and when a plot was formed against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia. And he was accompanied by Sopater of Berea, the son of Pyrrhus, and by Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia.”
- Ephesians 6:21 – “But that you also may know about my circumstances, how I am doing, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make everything known to you.”
- Colossians 4:7 – “As to all my affairs, Tychicus, our beloved brother and faithful servant and fellow bond-servant in the Lord, will bring you information.”
- 2 Timothy 4:12 – “But Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus.”
- Titus 3:12 – “When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, make every effort to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there.”
In all of these references there is a theme. Tychicus was a servant that Paul could rely on. Paul often described Tychicus as “the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord” and “fellow bond-servant in the Lord.” Paul sent Tychicus from church to church so that he could update them and preach for them. It seems that there was never a doubt in Paul’s mind about Tychicus.
He was a beloved brother in Christ, a hardworking servant, and a man who was faithful to God’s word. Tychicus often gets overlooked in scripture because He isn’t a big name like Paul or Peter or James or John. But His work is the reason many of these churches in the New Testament were able to thrive. The first century church was what it was largely because of Tychicus and His heart to serve the Lord.
You may not be the preacher. You may not have a Bible degree. But it doesn’t take a Bible degree or a preaching school to make a servant. We need more servants like Tychicus. We need people who work behind the scenes, yet on the front line. Those are the kinds of people that kept the church alive and well in the first century, and those are the kinds of people that will keep the church alive and well today. My challenge to you is to be more like Tychicus. Find a need in the congregation and fill it. Be someone the elders can rely on to get things done. Be someone that everyone loves. Be faithful to God’s word. Be a hard worker. Be a servant. Be a Tychicus.
– Kolton Ballance
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