22 whom I have sent to you for this very purpose, that you may know our affairs, and that he may comfort your hearts.
22 whom I have sent to you
Paul personally sent Tychicus to Ephesus not only to deliver the written text of Ephesians but also to give an oral update of how he was surviving in jail.
for this very purpose,
The purpose of Tychicus coming to Ephesus was to inform the Ephesians of how Paul was doing in jail (Co 4:8). Paul’s purpose was to have reciprocal concern for them, as they had for him.
that you may know our affairs,
“Our affairs” refers to the issues that Paul faced in jail.
and that he may comfort your hearts.
Paul’s heart was to encourage the Ephesians. He did not seek encouragement for himself.
PRINCIPLE:
It is a sign of character to be more concerned about others than about ourselves.
APPLICATION:
Paul was in a serious situation while he sat in jail. He had the possibility of losing his life to the Roman government. Yet his concern was not for himself but for the church at Ephesus and the surrounding cities. Most of us are engulfed in our problems. We rarely concern ourselves with others and what they may be facing in life. Mature love thinks of others first. It puts others first.
Comfort is a specialty that the Holy Spirit gives to the believer,
“Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied” (Ac 9:31).
“1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world” (I Jn 2:1,2).
The Word of God is another source of comfort for the Christian:
“For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope” (Ro 15:4).
“Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Th 4:17,18).
Paul sent Tychicus to Ephesus to minister to hearts, not heads. Paul did not write, “When Tychicus comes, he will inspire your mind.”
God wants us to comfort others as He does through the Holy Spirit and the Word. When we become discouraged, it is our hearts that need comfort. God will put someone in our path to encourage us when we need it.
Has God given you the gift of encouragement? Maybe God is putting people in your path to be an encouragement to them. They may need a warm handshake, a cup of coffee. Someone else may need help during a time of bereavement. Someone else may need you to take care of their children during a crisis. Are you that cold drink of water on a hot day?
