PERSONAL AGAIN: “AND say to Archip´pus, ‘See that you fulfil the ministry which you have received in the Lord’” (Col. 4:17). This exhortation differs from what we found in Tychicus. He was a faithful minister, and had drive and direction, but Archippus was probably weak at the center. He was probably a man who lacked central drive. He was probably a person who could not say no to relatively unimportant things. He let himself be absorbed in the marginal and had little drive left for the central call of his life—the ministry.
Many a minister is called to be a minister to souls—to save them, develop them, and mature them—but he finds himself doing everything but that. Paul said, “This one thing I do,” and this minister can say, “These forty things I dabble in.” One leaves a mark, the other leaves a blur.
In dealing with many ministers in personal counseling, I find this frustration regarding the fulfillment of the central call of their lives is their most important problem. The pull of the marginal against the center, divides a man’s time—and divides the man.
This temptation to take the easier and unimportant plagues us all. I find that sometimes when I have real decisions to make concerning important things, I wash my nylon shirt! It is easier! And if I succumb to it—deadly.
This fulfillment of the ministry applies not only to professional ministers, but to laymen as well. Everyone in the Lord has a ministry. Being in the Lord means not only being in the Lord, but also being in the Lord’s plan for us. That plan can be worked out as a full-time minister, or as a full-time layman. Being in the Lord means being in a creative plan of action for and with the Lord. Everybody in the Lord is in service, and in the ministry whether it is the preaching ministry or the lay serving ministry.
Lord Jesus, no hands were laid on Thee in ordination, and yet the choice of the Father was upon Thee. Thou didst fulfill that ministry. With or without hands of men upon me, help me to fulfill my ministry. In Thy name. Amen.
AFFIRMATION FOR THE DAY: May no unimportant weeds choke the fine wheat of the kingdom.
