Colossians 4:17 And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it
What is ministry? We talk about ministers and my ministry or their ministry. What do we mean by ministry? Oftentimes we think of ministry as a thing that we build, work at, or promote. There may be a sense in which those characterizations are true, but that is missing the fundamental definition of what ministry is. Ministry is something you give, not something you build primarily. God’s work is to give ministry, service or a place of a serving, and our work is simply to fulfill it.
In Colossians 4 Paul is saying goodbye to everyone in this epistle. In verse 17 he says to Archippus, “Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.” Notice what God does and notice what we do. “The ministry which thou hast received in the Lord.” Ministry was not something he built, imagined, or for which he had a vision. Ministry was something that was given him by God. God may have given the vision and abilities, but God gave it.
What was Archippus to do with the ministry God had given him? He was to fulfill it, complete it and be faithful over it. Friend, God’s work is to give ministry and our work is to fulfill it. That realization puts things into perspective. It helps us to rely upon God and make sure we are being faithful, not great, known, or prominent, but faithful.
This is consistent throughout this last chapter. Verse 7 says, “All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord.” He was called brother, faithful minister, fellow servant. The emphasis is on his being faithful with what God had given him, whatever it was. Obviously, he is not as well-known as the Apostle Paul, but he was faithful and God knew that.
Verse 9 says, “With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother.” So, whatever we know or don’t know about Onesimus, we know that he was faithful and was a servant of Christ. Verse 11 says, “And Jesus [not the Christ], which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me.” They were fellow workers. They worked together with Paul and with and under God. God worked through them. Verse 12 says, “Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.” Epaphras was a servant of Christ.
There is no mention of skill, greatness, prominence, or fame in these verses. There is simply a listing of God’s servants who were faithful to that which God had given them. I don’t know what God has given you and maybe you don’t fully know what God has given you, but if you will be faithful with what you know today, God will give you fruitful ministry tomorrow.