Ephesians 6:21: Tychicus the Beloved Brother

Ephesians 6:21
[21] So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you everything. (ESV)

So, be honest. Before you just read that verse were you aware of the man Tychicus? Can you even pronounce that name? When we think of the celebrities of the faith Tychicus is not on the top of anyone's list. If you read the famous Hall of Faith chapter, Hebrews 11, you will find names like David, Gideon, and Abraham, but no mention of Tychicus. And yet, to the great Apostle Paul Tychicus was very valuable.

Why was Tychicus so valuable to Paul? He was with him in prison. Paul is sending Tychicus to the church at Ephesus from Paul's imprisonment in Rome. There is something very valuable about being with someone in their time of great need. In fact, Jesus told a parable about the sheep and the goats about the value of being with others in their time of need:

Matthew 25:34–36
[34] Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. [35] For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, [36] I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ (ESV)

The church desperately needs more men and women who are like Tychicus. We need people who will grieve with those who grieve and rejoice with those who rejoice. Maybe you would like to be involved in ministry, but you do not know how. You know you will never have the spiritual gifting of an Apostle Paul, or a Billy Graham, but how about a Tychicus?

Ask the Lord to show you someone in need with whom you can invest time. Simply be a minister of presence. Being a faithful friend to a brother in need is great ministry. Be a Tychicus!

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