Archippus Times
As I have been compiling a list of all the kinds of missionary helpers throughout the New Testament, I came across one obscure name at the end of Colossians 4. As Paul name-drops several people and does his usual end-of-letter closing, he tells the Colossians this:
“Tell Archippus, ‘Pay attention to the ministry you have received in the Lord, so that you can accomplish it.’”
What a random thing to say. The only other place Archippus is mentioned is in Philemon 2 where he is called “our fellow soldier.”
I was reflecting on the fact that we live in a kind of ARCHIPPUS-TIMES.
On one hand, you’ve got this guy, Archippus. It is clear that the Lord has an allotted space for him to be doing some kind of service in God’s kingdom. It is also unclear what he is dealing with that would hinder him from getting to this work. Is he being lazy? Is he unaware he’s got work to do? (that can’t be it). Has he run up against some sort of discouragement? Trial? Mid-life crisis? And why him of all the people in Colossae? Are all the other believers doing what God has asigned for their specific good works?
On the other hand, you have the work of the believers to nudge him toward remembering he’s got a specific responsibility for kingdom work. He’s got specific responsibility. God has transmitted some kind of work for him to do.
Sometimes, we need the encouragement to get to it. Other times, we need to nudge others.
What is our work?
I entited this that we live in Archippus times. Maybe we don’t even live in those times though. Perhaps we live in pre-Archippus times. It is easy to assume only leaders, those set-apart with degree in hand, have work to do for the kingdom. At least Archippus likely knew he had specific work to do. He just needed the car turned back on. How do you discover this kind of allotted work then?
Questions
One way to begin is by understanding yourself, your story, your angsts, your failures, your accomplishments, and what you enjoy doing that seems odd to others.
I’ve compiled a list of some of my most favorite questions to get you started.
