Fellow Workers for the Kingdom: Thoughts on Being an Impactful Person That Others Can Count On
In your Bible reading, have you ever come upon the Old Testament genealogies and thought, “Oh no, not again!?”
And then either turned the page quickly or waded through the chapter, attempting to pronounce all the names reasonably well?
Yes, reading the genealogies in the Old Testament can, on occasion, be a drudgery, even though there is a significance to their inclusion in Scripture.
If we’re not careful, it’s easy to fall into that habit of skipping/lightly reading some New Testament chapters, too. Particularly, those passages that contain the various names of believers special to Paul, as in Romans 16 or Colossians 4.
Today though, rather than a light read-through, notice the descriptions Paul uses in Colossians 4:7-18 defining fellow believers:
“Tychicus will tell you all about my activities. He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts, and with him Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you of everything that has taken place here.
Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions—if he comes to you, welcome him), and Jesus who is called Justus. These are the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me.
Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God. For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis.
Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does Demas.
Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. And when this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea. And say to Archippus, “See that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord.”
I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.”
In finishing his letter to the Colossians with personal greetings and admonitions, Paul put some questions in my heart now many centuries later:
• If I had been living in First Century Christianity, would I be a part of Paul’s list of workers?
• Would my life be an impact to those around me?
• Would I host a church meeting in my house?
Then another sentence struck a personal chord: “These are the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me” (v.11).
Of all the Jewish “friends” Paul had, there were only a handful that worked for the Kingdom. There were just a few who comforted him in his current plight.
And this made me think, “Am I one of those people today?” Am I a person that others can count on as a worker in the Kingdom? Do I encourage others in a time of their distress?
Am I really one?
