The greatest tragedy in life is to miss Christ and die in your sins. The next greatest tragedy is for a Christian to miss their life’s purpose and die not fulfilling the Lord’s will for their life. Consider the Apostle Paul’s concern for Archippus, whom he referred to as a fellow soldier.
Many things can sidetrack us. It could be feverishly working to stay on top of your game or working frantically in a race to the bottom of the company’s inverted organizational pyramid structure. Maybe your spiritual development has been temporarily paused due to your academic pursuits or your athletic dreams.
Very legitimate and honourable endeavours, such as ensuring a bright future for your children or overextending oneself in a community commitment, could throw one off course. Can you identify anything going on just now in your life that may be causing the Lord to get less of you?
Some may be sidelined by discouragement, consumed by bitterness, or stalled by their own stubbornness. And then there are the perfectionists who are too disheartened to do anything until everything is ideal. Others may just need more encouragement to counter their feelings of inadequacy for the task at hand and the direction the Lord seems to be placing on their hearts. As for the pessimists, they’re afraid of their own shadow and can’t proceed until they get assurances the cloud won’t burst overhead. Well-intentioned procrastinators are also in great danger of not fulfilling the Lord’s purpose for their lives.
Of all the lofty and rich truths taught in the Epistle to the Colossians, don’t miss the lesson to be learned from one Christian. Archippus was his name. What’s your name?
In the concluding section of Paul’s letter, he gives various instructions and greetings, mentioning names like Tychicus, Onesimus, Aristarchus, Mark, Justus, Epaphras, Doctor Luke, Demas, and Sister Nymphas. He also instructs them to share his letters with others.
But look now at exactly how the letter concludes.
Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters in Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her home. (16) After this letter has been read at your gathering, have it read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea. (17) And tell Archippus, “Pay attention to the ministry you have received in the Lord, so that you can accomplish it.” (18) I, Paul, am writing this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you. Colossians 4:15-18 CSB
Imagine the congregation listening to this letter being read in Colossae. One older sister whispers to the other: “I think he’s almost at the end of it. He’s just about finished.” She starts to wrap her shawl around her shoulders, preparing to leave. But all of a sudden, the Archippus one-liner is read. Can’t you see her eyes widen? Her eyebrows go up, and her mouth pulls in the opposite direction with surprise. “Oh my,” she gasps to herself. “That’s pretty direct. What will dear Archippus think of that?”
In Paul’s letter to Philemon, he calls Archippus his fellow soldier — not merely a fellow worker! It seems he was a soldier, fully engaged in the same battle Paul was engaged in for the Lord in spreading the Gospel and combatting error. Yes, a fellow soldier! But what happened? Was he getting caught up in the “philosophy” that was infecting the Colossae church? Or had he become discouraged by disappointments in the work of the Lord?
Paul wanted the believers to go to Archippus and encourage him to stick with the program. “Don’t bale out. Don’t slack off. You may be side-swiped, but don’t be sidelined. Knocked down, but don’t be knocked out. God has given you something to do, and we want to encourage you, dear brother, to fulfill it, finish it, and complete it. Take heed. Be careful. See that you fulfill the ministry you have received in the Lord. What He has given you belongs to Him. He has entrusted you with that ministry, that gift, that ability – however insignificant it may seem to be in the eyes of others. You be a good manager of it – a good steward.”
Ultimately, dear child of God, we will stand before Him. We all want to hear from His lips: “Well done! You’ve been a good and faithful servant and a good steward. You stuck with it, and you carried out and fulfilled exactly what I had in mind for you.”
The Perfect Servant was able to say before He died – “Finished.” Is that your daily prayer as well – to be able to finish or fulfill what God has in mind for you?
Get with the program, stick with it, run well, finish well, and avoid the second-greatest tragedy in life.
Don’t hesitate to share a thought from your personal experience or a verse that has been a blessing to you – in the comment section below. Or, if you would like to reach out privately, click below.
