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In Colossians 1:24-29, Paul changes his focus from the reconciliation ministry of Christ to the ministry that God called Paul to do.\u00a0 This ministry involved both suffering and a stewardship.<\/p>\nIn Colossians 1:24-29, Paul changes his focus from the reconciliation ministry of Christ to the ministry that God called Paul to do.\u00a0 This ministry involved both suffering and a stewardship.<\/p>\n
Paul\u2019s suffering was \u201chis share\u201d, so to speak, of the sufferings that were going to fall on those who proclaimed Jesus as the genuine Messiah.\u00a0 It is true, of course, that many other servants of God since the earthly ministry of Jesus have also suffered in his service.\u00a0 Thus, for Paul, his suffering was simply part of his calling. We could ponder that for a moment.\u00a0 If suffering is a part of God\u2019s calling on your life,\u00a0are you responding like Paul?\u00a0 Have you done the opposite and become angry at God for allowing you to suffer again? A willingness to joyfully accept suffering cannot be done without the grace of God<\/strong><\/em>, so let me encourage you to ask God for the grace if you are hurting today.<\/p>\n The text also makes it clear that Paul had a<\/em><\/strong> stewardship<\/em><\/strong>.\u00a0 His task was to preach the gospel to the gentiles \u2026 that is, all non-Jews.\u00a0 We should also think about how we are doing at fulfilling the stewardship that God has given to us. \u00a0On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the best, how are you doing at fulfilling God\u2019s stewardship for your life?<\/p>\n While these two points are significant in the text, I would like the focus of this article to rest on vv. 28-29.\u00a0 It is here that we see the end result of patient suffering and godly stewardship: helping people become mature<\/em><\/strong>.\u00a0 This goal of helping others mature \u2013 the purpose \u2013 serves as a motivating force to be a steward and to endure suffering.\u00a0 Paul prayed in Collosians 1:10 that the folks would learn to please God by the way they lived.\u00a0 In order to accomplish a God-pleasing life, they needed a maturity that would help them make decisions on a daily basis that would please Christ. <\/strong><\/em>Isn\u2019t that what you want?\u00a0 Wouldn\u2019t you like your kids not to be\u00a0simply getting bigger but actually maturing?\u00a0 Wouldn\u2019t you like your neighbors to understand the truth of Scripture?\u00a0 Wouldn\u2019t you want your ministry at the church to result in the maturing of the believers? <\/strong><\/em>If you would answer \u201cyes\u201d to these questions and questions like them, then please notice in this passage that maturity does not automatically happen.<\/p>\n Here are a few observations from the passage about maturing others.<\/p>\n There is, of course, a place for servant evangelism.\u00a0 There is a place for seeking to meet needs of people.\u00a0 There is, of course, a place for a lot of different ministries.\u00a0 However, at some point along the path, there actually needs to be a \u201cproclamation.\u201d <\/em><\/strong>This proclamation does not necessarily have to occur from the pulpit; Paul\u2019s ministry was often very personal rather than public (e.g. his years under house arrest).\u00a0 However, some form of \u201cproclamation\u201d must still be given.\u00a0 Romans 10:9-10 makes it clear that unbelievers need to hear the message of Christ.\u00a0 Believers, equally, need to be challenged and encouraged to live out the revealed truth found in the Bible.\u00a0 Your family, your co-workers, your spiritual friends, and your neighbors will not mature without some form of proclamation.\u00a0 In Deuteronomy 6, God challenged parents to teach their children all the time.\u00a0 Teachable moments are not simply family devotions, but they are also moments in the car, moments before school, moments watching the news, and moments of great rejoicing.<\/em><\/p>\n Admonition, or warning, is a term that most appropriately deals with the negative consequences associated with sin.\u00a0 Those who wish to help others mature will give an appropriate amount of attention to the \u201cwarning\u201d aspect of living for Christ.<\/em><\/strong> When I was little, I was keenly aware of the \u201cwarnings.\u201d\u00a0 It seemed to me that a paddling was never far away.\u00a0 However, as I grew, my dad reminded me that with my new freedom (especially after I had a driver\u2019s license) came a much greater opportunity for me to do things that my spiritual mentors would not know about.\u00a0 Thus, he reminded me that sinful choices are always seen by the Lord, whether the Lord brings immediate discipline or not.\u00a0 That was admonition.\u00a0 My dad was warning me that, while my freedom would give me more frequent and secretive opportunities to sin,\u00a0God always knew and He was always there.<\/p>\n Teaching, on the other hand, is helping the people in your life comprehend a truth from Scripture that they did not previously understand<\/em><\/strong>.\u00a0 For example, as a younger man, I enjoyed debates.\u00a0 The topic was not particularly important.\u00a0 All that mattered was an opportunity to voice my opinion about a matter and attempt to show why my opinion was better than anyone else\u2019s.\u00a0 I did not realize at the time that I was actually violating Ephesians 4:29.\u00a0 I simply thought of debating the same way some people viewed playing the piano or being on a sports team \u2013 they just enjoyed it.\u00a0 However, my dear wife became my teacher.\u00a0 She helped me connect the dots between my behavior and my violation of Scripture.\u00a0 Without her kind and gentle instruction, I am not sure how long it would have taken me to understand that connection.<\/p>\n According to v. 29, Paul labored and strived in order to accomplish this task.\u00a0 Being involved in the maturing process is a lot of work.<\/em><\/strong> It is hard to balance grace with judgment.\u00a0 It is hard to teach and\/or admonish when you want to relax.\u00a0 It is hard to invest the kind of time it takes to\u00a0study and understand the Bible so that you are in a position to teach it.\u00a0 It is hard to spot teachable moments in the midst of everyday life. <\/em><\/strong>However, just because something is hard does not make it bad.\u00a0 Hard is just hard.<\/p>\nObservation #1:\u00a0 We need to open our mouths<\/h2>\n
Observation #2:\u00a0 Maturing involves both admonition and teaching<\/h2>\n
Observation #3:\u00a0 Being involved in the maturing process takes effort<\/h2>\n