After the word disciple, the most popular name used to describe Christians in the Bible is, “servant.” Sadly, today most Christians act as customers rather than servants. They look for churches where they can do they least and get the most. However, Jesus commanded us to be servants of all, and to live a life of self-sacrifice (Mark 9:35). 

EPHESIANS 6:21-24

21 Tychicus, the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing. 22 I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage you. 23 Peace to the brothers and sisters, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.

TYCHICUS

Acts 20:2-4, “2 He traveled through that area, speaking many words of encouragement to the people, and finally arrived in Greece, 3 where he stayed three months. Because some Jews had plotted against him just as he was about to sail for Syria, he decided to go back through Macedonia. 4 He was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy also, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia.”

Tychicus was Paul’s personal representative to the churches in Colosse (Col 4:7-9), Ephesus (Ephesians 6:21-22), and possibly to the other Asian churches as well. Later we find him with Paul again and named along with Artemas as a possible relief for Titus in Crete (Titus 3:12). Soon afterwards he was dispatched to Ephesus (2 Timothy 4:12). The fact that he was entrusted with these important commissions reflects his reliability. Paul describes Tychicus as a loyal Christian servant and a brother dearly loved, not only by Paul but by all who knew him. (Expositor’s Bible Commentary)

FAITHFUL SERVANTS

(1) FAITHFUL (PISTOS): Trustworthy and reliable.

(a) Proverbs 20:6, “Many claim to have unfailing love, but a faithful person who can find?”

(b) Matthew 25:14-30, “14 Again, it (the Kingdom of God) will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants (doulos) and entrusted his wealth to them. 15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17 So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 18 But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’ 21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ 22 “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’ 23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

24 “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’ 26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.

28 “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

(c) Ephesians 1:1, “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To God’s holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus.”

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(2) SERVANT (DIAKONOS): Attendant, waiter & minister. Similar to “doulos/slave” as mentioned in Ephesians 6:6 & Matthew 25:23. The main difference would be that diakonos leans more towards willing service, whereas doulos leans more towards forced labor. However, in the Bible doulos and diakonos are two different words describing the same function (i.e., “serving God and mankind”).

(a) Matthew 20:25-28, “25 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant (diakonos), 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave (doulos)— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served (diakone?), but to serve (diakone?), and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

(b) Mark 9:35, “And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant (diakonos) of all.”

(c) Acts 6:1-7, “1 In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait (diakone?) on tables. 3 Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them 4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”

5 This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. 6 They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. 7 So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.”

HOW TO BE A FAITHFUL SERVANT OF GOD AT MPI

  1. Be born again and join the 101 discipleship class (John 3:3).
  2. Be a disciple that learns and obeys Jesus’ commands in the 201 discipleship class (Matthew 28:19-20).
  3. Graduate the 201 class to be an ordained deacon that is a Spirit-filled servant leader on Sundays, in life groups, with new disciples in 101 and wherever you go (Acts 1:8 & 1 Timothy 3:1-13).

The greatest thing Jesus can say to us when our life is over, “Well done, good and faithful servant!”