Transforming Friendships

    All my state shall Tych'i-cus declare to you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellow-servant in the Lord. Whom I have sent to you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts." (Col 4:7-8)
    Some of our most meaning relationships are those we have with friends. We can recall with warm feelings the hours we spent together and the joys, sorrows, and experiences we have shared. The Bible speaks highly of friendships: " A man that has friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother." (Prov. 18-24)
    Friendships help to make life beautiful and enjoyable. Elizabeth Barrett Browning once asked novelist Charles Kingsley the secret of his life. He thought a moment, then replied, " I had a friend." One of the most important things we can do in life is to make friends and cultivate lasting friendships.
    When we come to the last section of the letter to the Colossians, we meet a whole host of Paul's friends who were with him in Rome. Remember that he was a prisoner and it was probably dangerous to be his friend. But these men chose to demonstrate their friendship and loyalty to Paul by staying with him. Some of these names we identify instantly--Mark and Luke, for example--but others are not so familiar.
    In these names and references we find a great message: the message of transforming friendships. We can see a lot of gospel in the names mentioned here.

    1. A Transforming friendshio can change a life.
    A. A life can be changed. Paul refused to write about his personal problems in this public letter. The bearer of the letter, Tychicus, would fill them in on those details. With him would be Onesimus, who was described as a " faithful and dear brother," (col. 4-9) and who was evidently a native of Colosse.
    Onesimus was the slave of Philemon, also of Colosse. He had stolen something from Philemon and fled to Rome to lose himself among the crowds. But while he was there he met someone--Paul--who introduced him to someone else--Jesus Christ. Now this man who once had been a fugitive slave was going back to Colosse with a letter to the church, but also with a letter to Philemon from Paul. In this letter Paul appeals to Philemon to take him in and receive him as a brother.
    B. The friendship that changes a life makes it profitable. "Profitable" is the meaning of Onesimus's name. Before he was introduced to Christ, Onesimus had been anything but profitable. But his friendship with Paul and his new relationship with Jesus had transformed his life, making him profitable indeed.

    2. A transforming friendship can develop steadfastness.
    A. A staedfast friend shares experiences with you. Aristarchus was a native of Thessalonica who was a Jew by birth. Called " a fellow prisoner," he willingly shared the bondage of all believers in Christ.
    B. A steadfast friend stays with you. Aristarchus is seen three times in the New Testement: during the riot at Ephesus at the temple of Diana when he was captured by the mob (acts 19:29), when Paul sailed as a prisoner for Rome (Acts 27:2), and here with Paul in Rome. He was a man who stood by Paul in a crisis, always at hand in times of need.
    Someone has described a friend as one who steps in when the whole world steps out.

    3. A transforming friendship can build a life.
    A. Hasty decisions can hurt friendships. Mark is the next name mentioned. Mark had set out with Paul and Barnabus ( he was a relative of Barnabus) on the first missionary jouney but soon left them and went home to Jerusalem. Paul refused to take him with them on the second journey. Their mission team broke up because of Mark.
    B.Friendships can rebuild and reclaim lives. Mark's life was mended because of friendship. Now Paul had Mark with him in a place of difficult service.

    4. A transforming friendship can weld a heart of loving service.
    A. Loving service can renew a church. Paul mentions Epaphras, who was likely the founder and pastor of the church at Colosse as well as those at Hieropolis and Laodicea. The concern  that he had for the people there was manifested as he prayed daily for them that they might stand within the will of God.
    B. Loving service can show a contrast in fidelity. Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas are mentioned. Demas is mentioned only here, in Philemon 24, and in 2 Timothy 4:10, where the sad and haunting words appear, "Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world." The following verse reads, "Only Luke is with me now." Demas and Luke show a contrast in fidelity.
    C. Loving service is willing to share one's home for Christ.  The last name listed is Nym-phas, who offered her home as the meeting place for the church. She shared what she had with Christ.

    We show friendship to God and others when we serve them faithfully. We are friends of Christ when we obey what He commands and witness to others of what He has done for us. And we do all this because Christ showed His love for us by laying down His life for us.