Leaving a legacy: Lessons from Tychicus
Do you ever skim past verses in the Bible where Paul sends greetings to or from fellow Christians who are all but forgotten in our day and age? Although it’s easy to pass by verses like this in favor of Scriptures that are more easily applicable to our daily lives, all Scripture is God-breathed and profitable. Let’s take a closer look at one such verse.
“Tychicus will tell you all about my activities. He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord.” - Colossians 4:7
This short verse specifically mentions a Christian brother named Tychicus. We really don’t know much about Tychicus, but the little we do know is good. He was a beloved brother in the faith, which is something worth celebrating. He was a faithful minister, a description that, unfortunately, cannot be applied to all ministers. He was a colleague of the Apostle Paul, which is an honor in and of itself. The fact that nearly 2000 years after he lived, Tychicus is still remembered at all is remarkable.
Our chief goal in life should be to bring honor to Christ and not to be remembered ourselves. All of us will eventually be forgotten by the world. However, it’s not a bad thing to want those who knew us to think well of us when we pass on to glory. How can we achieve that? I believe this short description of Tychicus shines some light on this question.
The reputations we are building right now determine how we will be remembered later. If we live self-centered lives, we will be remembered as selfish people. We don’t get to act one way and be remembered differently at the end of our lives.
“People miss those who made a positive impact on those around them. So make an impact, even if it is only in the lives of a handful of people. That handful will remember you well.”
It’s important for each of us to take some time to ponder how we are living our lives. Set aside some time to reflect on the following questions:
What is your reputation right now? Is it accurate? Is it how you want to be remembered?
Do you consistently live a life of integrity?
Are you an example of Christian love to fellow believers? Your family? Your neighbors and colleagues? Strangers?
Are you faithful in your commitments?
Are you serving the Lord in meaningful ways? (You don’t need to be famous or even publicly recognized to answer yes. It simply requires you to find a meaningful ministry and engage in it faithfully.)
I’ve been to a lot of funerals, and I don’t recall anyone ever standing up to say, “This guy was a real jerk. You could never rely on him. He was a total loser. We will really miss him.”
People miss those who made a positive impact on those around them. So make an impact, even if it is only in the lives of a handful of people. That handful will remember you well.
Most of us will never be famous, but we can be a Tychicus, a little-known believer, who was remembered well by those who did know him.
Dr. Terry W. Dorsett serves as the executive director of the Baptist Convention of New England.
