One evening not too long ago, my son announced he was bored. You remember what that was like, to be ten and have nothing to do. It wasn't that there was 'nothing' to do, he just didn't want to do any of the 'somethings' that were available. He wasn't being adequately entertained. When we pressed him though, the truth came out. His sisters were busy. He had no audience. He wasn't the center of attention.

• Diligence – "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might…" Ecclesiastes 9:10
• Humility – "But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?” Romans 9:20
• Gratefulness – Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! Psalm 107:8
• Contentment – "Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have." Hebrews 13:5
• Perspective – "Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth." Colossians 3:2

In Colossians 4:17, Paul sends a message to a young man, Archippus, "Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it." That's a tremendous charge, worth a closer look.

Take heed- From the Greek, it means voluntarily giving careful attention to. Paul's tone is one of encouragement.

Ministry- This is the word deacon comes from and carries an idea of waiting tables. We tend to think "ministry" is only for preachers or other big-shot Christians, but any of us can serve others and attend to their needs.

Received- This one means to "to take near". On a recent trip to a theme park, I received some money for one of the kids. (His parents were afraid he might lose it.) I kept it close to me in a pocket, protecting it, acting as a steward for the money, parceling it out as the boy had need of it.

Fulfill- This is an interesting word and several of the usages carry the idea of filling in what's empty, whether it's a hole or a net or an empty house. Don't leave anything out or undone.

To paraphrase- When you accepted Christ, you agreed to serve Him as needed. Don't you see what a tremendous role you've been entrusted with? Run with it!

Sometimes, in our way of thinking, being a servant is not such a great draw. But if someone we love asks for a favor, we deliver without hesitation. Maybe that was the issue for Archippus. We know from the letter to Philemon, that he was the son of a comfortably wealthy man. Maybe the transition from having servants to being a servant was a little difficult.

Paul said back in chapter 3: "And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ." Ultimately, all our service is to Christ, not the individuals who receive the immediate benefits.

What is your ministry? Are you fulfilling it? 

Related articles by Zemanta

• Do You Know Your Calling? (lynnmosher.blogspot.com)

In Colossians 2:6-7, Paul instructs us "As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him…"

We received Jesus Christ in the past.

We walk in Him in the present and continue to do so in the future.

We are deeply rooted in Him, internally, including our thoughts and feelings, so that they honor Christ.

We are built up in Him so that our visible, external actions reflect Jesus Christ.

Every facet of our being, and our very existence is a testimony to our Lord.

Here’s another reason to study Scripture–discernment, the ability to tell the difference between truth and lies.

We are surrounded by misconceptions about who God is and how He operates. Colossians 2:23 warns us that a lot of ideas men put forth seem reasonable, and Paul could understand how we could fall for them. They have “an appearance of wisdom,” he said. But in the first chapter of the letter, and most of chapter 2, his focus is solely on Christ.

That devotion to internalizing truth is critically important to our faith in this culture. God reserves special condemnation for those who would twist His truth.  (2 Thessalonians 2:12).

If we are so intimately acquainted with The Truth (John 14:6), we’ll never fall for a half-truth. In John’s letters, nothing thrilled him like knowing his spiritual children were walking in truth.

Just as Jesus Christ is God in human form, the Scriptures are God in written form.  The Father’s heart’s desire is for us to know Him (Ephesians 2:7).

Don’t take someone else’s word – Take God’s!