What's Your Part?
- Aug 26
- 7 min read
Don’t Waste Your Calling
At the end of Colossians, Paul does something that can be easy to skim past: he starts naming people.
Tychicus. Onesimus. Aristarchus. Mark. Justus. Epaphras. Luke. Demas. Nympha. Archippus.
At first glance, Colossians 4:7–18 can feel like a collection of closing greetings. But look closer and you find something much bigger. These names represent different backgrounds, different abilities, different failures, different resources, and different roles—but each life teaches us something about what it means to be useful in the Kingdom of God.
Some carried messages. Some carried burdens. Some prayed. Some opened their homes. Some used professional skills. Some had failed spectacularly and were restored. And one tragically walked away.
Together, their stories ask us a powerful question:
What has God given you, and what are you doing with it?
Grace Rewrites Your Story, but Faithfulness Expands Your Usefulness
“Tychicus, a beloved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me.”Colossians 4:7 (NKJV)
Tychicus didn't begin as one of Paul's most prominent leaders. In Acts 20:4, we first see him as a trusted companion traveling with Paul as part of the group entrusted with delivering financial assistance to Jerusalem.
But over time, something happened.
He proved faithful.
Eventually, Paul trusted Tychicus to carry the letters to the Ephesians and Colossians. Later, in Titus 3:12, Paul considered sending him to Crete to take Titus' place. In 2 Timothy 4:12, Paul sent him to Ephesus—apparently freeing Timothy to come to Paul.
Over roughly six years, Tychicus went from trusted companion to trusted representative.
He was faithful with little and eventually entrusted with much.
And then Paul mentions Onesimus.
“With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you.”Colossians 4:9 (NKJV)
Onesimus' story began very differently. He was a runaway slave with a messy and complicated past. Yet after encountering Christ, his story changed.
Paul doesn't introduce him according to his failure. He calls him a “faithful and beloved brother.”
Tychicus and Onesimus started in very different places, but both demonstrate the same Kingdom principle:
Grace rewrites your story, but faithfulness expands your usefulness.
God isn't limited by where you started. He isn't disqualifying you because your story isn't clean enough, impressive enough, or spiritual enough.
The question is what you're doing with what He's placed in front of you today.
Where does God need greater faithfulness from you?
Carrying Burdens Is Powerful Ministry
Paul next introduces Aristarchus:
“Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you…”Colossians 4:10 (NKJV)
Aristarchus' story is remarkable because there is no record of him preaching a famous sermon, leading a church, or writing a book of the Bible.
What we see instead is someone who simply kept showing up when things got difficult.
In Acts 19, when a violent mob erupted in Ephesus and couldn't get to Paul, Aristarchus was seized instead.
Later, in Acts 27, Aristarchus was with Paul as he traveled toward Rome—a journey involving a terrible storm, shipwreck, and even a plot to kill the prisoners.
He wasn't forced to stay beside Paul.
He chose to.
Paul also mentions Jesus, who was called Justus, as one of the few Jewish believers who continued working alongside him. Paul says these men “have proved to be a comfort to me” (Colossians 4:11).
The word translated comfort carries the idea of soothing or relieving pain.
Think about everything Paul endured: rejection, false accusations, beatings, imprisonment, shipwrecks, and opposition.
God didn't always remove Paul's burdens.
Sometimes He sent people to help him carry them.
That is ministry too.
You don't have to preach a sermon to make an enormous Kingdom impact. Sometimes ministry looks like sitting beside someone in the storm, showing up when life falls apart, and refusing to leave when things get uncomfortable.
Carrying burdens is powerful ministry.
Whose burden are you positioned to help carry?
Failure Doesn't Forfeit Your Future
Then Paul mentions someone with a complicated reputation:
“…Mark the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions: if he comes to you, welcome him).”Colossians 4:10 (NKJV)
Why would Paul need to tell them to welcome Mark?
Because Mark had a history.
Years earlier, John Mark joined Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey. But when they reached Perga, Mark left and returned to Jerusalem (Acts 13:13).
Whatever happened affected Paul deeply.
When Barnabas later wanted to bring Mark on another missionary journey, Paul refused.
Their disagreement became so sharp that Paul and Barnabas separated (Acts 15:37–39).
Mark had become associated with failure.
But failure wasn't the end of his story.
Mark spent significant time with Peter, who affectionately referred to him as “Mark my son” (1 Peter 5:13). Through that relationship, Mark matured and eventually recorded Peter's account of the life of Jesus in what we now know as the Gospel of Mark.
And years later, Paul's opinion of Mark had completely changed.
“Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry.”2 Timothy 4:11 (NKJV)
The man Paul once refused to take became the man Paul specifically requested.
Failure doesn't forfeit your future.
Your worst season does not have to become your permanent identity. God can restore what failed, mature what was immature, and make useful what others once considered unreliable.
Where have you allowed past failure to define your future?
Distance Doesn't Diminish Influence
Epaphras loved the church in Colossae.
But when Paul wrote this letter, Epaphras wasn't there.
“Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers…”Colossians 4:12 (NKJV)
Epaphras had traveled to Rome and was with Paul. He could no longer physically minister to the people he loved.
So he did what he still could do.
He prayed.
And Paul doesn't describe those prayers casually. Epaphras was “laboring fervently” in prayer for them.
His circumstances had changed, but his ministry hadn't stopped.
He couldn't be with them, but he could fight for them.
Sometimes we think influence requires proximity. We assume that if we can't fix the situation, physically help, or be present, there isn't much we can do.
Epaphras reminds us otherwise.
Distance doesn't diminish influence.
Prayer is not what we do when there is nothing else we can do. Prayer is ministry.
Who can you fight for in prayer?
Your Profession Can Be Your Contribution
Then Paul mentions:
“Luke the beloved physician…”Colossians 4:14 (NKJV)
Luke was educated. He was a doctor, a careful researcher, and a gifted writer. He traveled with Paul through difficult seasons and likely used his medical knowledge to care for him along the way.
But Luke also used his education and abilities to document what God was doing.
The result?
The Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts.
Luke's professional skills weren't separate from his Kingdom contribution.
They became part of it.
Sometimes our prayers sound like, “God, help me get into this school,” “Help me succeed at work,” “Give me wisdom,” “Help me make this sale,” or “Give me favor.”
But what if the abilities, opportunities, education, relationships, and experience we're asking God to give us are also things He intends to use?
Serving God doesn't only mean children's ministry, worship ministry, or volunteering at an event.
Maybe you're skilled in social media.
Maybe you're a graphic designer.
Maybe you work in construction or another trade.
Maybe you understand finance, real estate, law, technology, organization, marketing, or interior design.
God can use all of it.
Your profession can be your contribution.
Instead of only asking God to bless what you're good at, consider asking:
How could God use what you're already good at?
Possessions Can Fuel Your Mission or Become Your Master
Paul's closing greetings also give us a striking contrast between Demas and Nympha.
At this point in Paul's ministry, Demas appeared to be doing well.
“Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you.”Colossians 4:14 (NKJV)
Philemon 1:24 even identifies Demas among Paul's fellow laborers.
He was there. He was serving. He was part of the mission.
But years later, Paul writes:
“Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world…”2 Timothy 4:10 (NKJV)
Then consider Nympha:
“Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea, and Nympha and the church that is in her house.”Colossians 4:15 (NKJV)
Nympha had resources too—but instead of allowing them to pull her away from the mission, she used what she possessed to advance it.
Her home became a place where the church gathered.
Two people. Two relationships with the things of this world.
One was pulled away by them.
The other put them to work for God's Kingdom.
Possessions can fuel your mission or become your master.
The issue isn't simply what we own. It's whether what we own is available to God.
What material pursuit is stealing your spiritual progress?
Don't Waste Your Calling
Finally, Paul gives the church an instruction concerning Archippus:
“And say to Archippus, ‘Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.’”Colossians 4:17 (NKJV)
Notice something important.
Archippus had received a ministry from the Lord—but something apparently remained unfinished.
And Paul didn't only speak to Archippus.
He told the church to say this to him.
They were supposed to see his calling, recognize his potential, and encourage him to fulfill what God had given him to do.
That's part of what the local church should be.
We should be people who recognize gifting, encourage growth, develop leaders, restore failures, provide opportunities, and help one another maximize our impact for Christ.
Because God has given every believer a place in His story.
Ephesians 2:10 reminds us that we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus “for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
You were saved by grace—not because of your works—but you were also saved for something.
So:
Don't waste your calling.
What has God given you that is left unfinished?
Different Stories. One Mission.
Paul closes the letter:
“This salutation by my own hand—Paul. Remember my chains. Grace be with you. Amen.”Colossians 4:18 (NKJV)
Look again at the people surrounding him.
A trusted leader.
A former runaway slave.
A burden bearer.
A restored failure.
A prayer warrior.
A physician.
A homeowner.
A young leader still growing into his calling.
Different experiences. Different personalities. Different economic circumstances. Different skills. Different histories.
But the faithful ones had something in common:
They did what they could with what God had given them.
Maybe your next step is obvious.
Maybe someone needs you to fight for them in prayer. Maybe someone needs you beside them during a difficult season. Maybe God is asking you to use your home, resources, professional expertise, or time differently. Maybe there's an ability you've always thought of as “just my job” that could become part of your ministry.
Or maybe your starting point is simply saying, “I'm available.”
The Kingdom doesn't only need people on platforms.
It needs faithful people.
People willing to carry burdens. People willing to be restored after failure. People willing to pray when they can't be present. People willing to surrender their skills and resources. People willing to finish what God has entrusted to them.
Grace rewrites your story. Faithfulness expands your usefulness. Failure doesn't forfeit your future. Distance doesn't diminish your influence. Your profession can become your contribution. Your possessions can fuel the mission.
And whatever God has placed in your hands—
don't waste your calling.
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