Grains of Sand

June 4, 2008

Colossians 4:7-18

“Tychicus will tell you all the news about me; he is a beloved brother, a faithful minister, and a fellow servant in the Lord. I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts; he is coming with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you about everything here. Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, as does mark the cousin of Barnabas, concerning whom you have received instructions—if he comes to you, welcome him. And Jesus who is called Justus greets you. These are the only ones of the circumcision among my co-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. He is always wrestling in his prayers on your behalf so that you may stand mature and fully assured in everything that God wills. For I testify for him that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis. Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas greet you. Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters in Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. And when this letter has been read among you, have it read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you read also the letter from Laodicea. And say to Archippus, “See that you complete the task that you have received in the Lord.” I, Paul, write this greeting, with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.”

“To be a grain of sand lost on a beach with millions of other grains is to be nothing.” I recently read these words of David Keirsey and Marilyn Bates as they wrote about a certain personality type. It struck me as completely contrary to how Paul would interpret life. Paul was aware that he had a calling and that every one of us has a calling. Our callings take different shapes and forms but each of us is called to a purpose.

As Paul closes this letter, he takes the usual form of sending greetings to and from significant people in his ministry. Tychicus is his friend and courier in this effort. Onesimus is Philemon’s slave. John Mark and Paul once had an estranged relationship but now he, Aristarchus and Jesus Justus are imprisoned with Paul. Epaphras is someone that they know well and who had a role in bringing a sense of assurance to the people when foreign teachings were upsetting them. Luke, Paul’s physician, Demas and Nympha would all have played important roles in Paul’s ministry. All of these people were central to Paul’s ministry but there is one named about whom we know little and yet who is most significant. Archippus may well have been a member of Philemon’s family. It is noted that he has some sort of calling left to fulfill. Some might assume that his calling is wrapped up in the freeing of Onesimus. We simply don’t know.

What is significant here is that Paul is living in prison, in chains and manacles. In the midst of this difficult life he understands that for all of the sufferings and struggles of life, he is a grain of sand that matters and he knows that his obedience to that call is what brings his spiritual freedom. This raises two significant questions. First, what is your call? And second, are we giving appropriate obedience to our calls? What does life and world look like when we do? Are we grains of sand with millions of others that equate to nothing or is there significance to our living? A few questions to ponder as we leave this book! God’s best! -Blythe