Henderson Hills Baptist Church

The Life of an Unsung Hero

So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you everything. I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage your hearts. Eph 6:21-22 (ESV)

Let’s admit it, “Tychicus” is not a household name. I do not remember the last time that I met someone named Tychicus or read a major biography about his life. Truly, this unsung hero is an example of faithful service outside of the spotlight where he made a major contribution to the spreading of the gospel through his work behind the scenes.

Paul’s comments here at the end of Ephesians shed some light on this man with the unusual name. Remember, Paul is writing this book to his dear friends in the Ephesian church from a Roman prison cell. Good can come from bad, there are many biblical examples of how the most tragic situations can work out for great blessings. This will be another one of those experiences. Paul’s suffering must have been enormous. Yet, he didn’t complain or even asked to be removed from it. Instead, he was committed to looking beyond his trials to the good that God had in mind. Certainly part of that God-orchestrated good is the writing of the Book of Ephesians. This epistle has added so much to our understanding of God and the Christian life. Perhaps that a reason why Paul’s prayer request was simply that he might be a faithful witness.

The Ephesians were, as we would expect, very concerned about their mentor and brother. One thing that we can count on is that rumors and gossip must have abounded in the church about Paul’s true condition. I remember a few years ago when I was told that a popular rumor was spreading around town that I drove a red Ferrari. Frankly, many worse things could have been said! After some time, I began to receive questions, from concerned people in and outside of the church, expressing alarm about my extravagance. Now the fact is, I drive a 2002 pickup truck and it is grey, not red. Those who know me thought that the whole episode was funny, and I guess that I did too. However, the sad thing was that this story upset the faith of some and it was needless. Paul was an expert on churches. He had spent his life in and around them so he knew what misinformation could do. That is why he was going to send Tychicus to inform the church of his condition. You will notice several things about Tychicus in the second half of verse 21. Paul calls him a “beloved brother,” and a “faithful minister in the Lord.”

The fact that Paul sent Tychicus tells us a number of things about this behind-the-scenes Christian man. First, he was there in Rome taking care of Paul. In the culture of that day, a person could be sent to prison and die of starvation or exposure. Conditions were harsh and a prisoner had to be taken care of by family members or friends. Otherwise, they would simply rot away in jail! It must not have been easy to pass through the bars, descend the stairs, pass through the checkpoints, and see a loved one who was living in such harsh conditions. However, that is precisely what Tychicus had done. This is hard, dirty, messy ministry and Tychicus was right there in the midst of it.

There is something else about Tychicus to consider, he was a “beloved brother.” Paul does not use that phrase very often. It tells us that this man was dear to Paul. The apostle never questioned his walk with Christ or the sincerity of his heart. That is the kind of person that God uses to minister grace and mercy both inside and outside of the church.

Notice, too, that Tychicus was a “faithful minister.” A less confusing description might be that he was a faithful servant. Servanthood is the key to greatness in life. That’s why Jesus said,

Mt 20:26-28 (ESV)   It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

What would give Tychicus trust of the church so that he could carry Paul’s message? His credential was his servanthood.

Do we know anything else about Tychicus? Actually, we do have several other glimpses into his life. For example,

Ac 20:4-6 (ESV) Sopater the Berean, son of Pyrrhus, accompanied him; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and the Asians, Tychicus and Trophimus. These went on ahead and were waiting for us at Troas, but we sailed away from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days, we came to them at Troas, where we stayed for seven days.

I realize that this reference is obscure and must have its context to be appreciated. The scene was a group of people who were headed to Jerusalem with Paul. Why? They were carrying an offering from the churches in Macedonia and Corinth that was to be given to the saints in Jerusalem as they were living under great persecution. Tychicus is named as one of those people who were so trusted that he would help carry these generous gifts. His name also appears a couple of other times as a member of short-term mission trips (2 Tim 4:12; Titus 3:12).

Tychicus was never mentioned preaching a sermon, healing a person who was ill, casting out demons, or walking on water. He was not the first to the tomb on Resurrection Morning nor did he chop a guard’s ear off in the Garden of Gethsemane. He would have characterized himself as just an average guy who worked behind the scenes being faithful. That is what he would have said. However, I have come to recognize that people like Tychicus are the unsung heroes of the church. We could not get by without them.

You may never sing a solo or play an instrument on the stage some Sunday morning. You might not preach a sermon or stand in the spotlight. Please understand that in no way does this diminish the importance of what you do. If it were not for people like Tychicus, everything would grind to a screeching halt. Those of us in the light are dependent upon those who are not. Any good work that happens from the platform relies on those who are not. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the unsung heroes out there who faithfully hold forth so that the work of Christ can be furthered. In addition, I’d invite all the Tychicuses out there to step forward. You are needed.

2 Peter 3:18

Dennis

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