成績單

Some time ago someone sent me a list of the benefits of getting older. I don’t know why he sent them to me unless he thought I was getting older and needed a little encouragement. One of the benefits in this list is that you no longer see speed limit signs and consider them a personal challenge. Well, I am evidently staying young, because that has not happened to me yet. Another benefit is that if people call you at nine o’clock at night, they will apologize and ask, “Did I wake you?” Here is one more benefit to getting older: “Your secrets are safe with your friends because they cannot remember them either.”

Well, it is one thing to grow older; it is another thing to grow wiser. And that is the apostle Paul’s desire as he writes this letter to the believers living in the market town of Colossae, located near the southern bank of the Lycus River in modern-day Turkey. Colossae was famous for its unique, dyed wool called colossinus, which gave the city its name.

A wealthy businessman named Philemon was a leader in this local church, and the pastor—more than likely the church planter—was a friend of Paul’s named Epaphras. Based on a report he has received from Epaphras, Paul is led by the Holy Spirit to write a letter to encourage this church to grow in godly wisdom.

The first thing Paul does is establish his credentials as an apostle, but not because he deserved it or had some impressive qualifications that earned it. Rather, Paul simply writes in verse 1, “[I am] an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God.” That is a nice way of saying, “You need to listen to my counsel because it is wisdom from God.”

Did Paul’s apostolic office make his life easy? Is Paul demanding some kind of special treatment? Not at all. In fact, Paul makes it clear in verse 24 that his ministry has brought him suffering and difficulty:

I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church.

Do not misunderstand this. Paul is not suggesting that the Lord’s suffering was insufficient for us. In fact, the Greek word Paul uses here for “sufferings” is never used to refer to Christ’s sufferings on the cross. The word is used to refer to the suffering Jesus experienced during His ministry. So, Paul is simply saying that his suffering is a lot like the Lord’s in that he has experienced rejection and life-threatening challenges.[1]

Remember beloved, Jesus told His disciples in John 15:20, “If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.” And that is true. But keep this in mind: when people persecute you today, they are actually persecuting Jesus because, ultimately, you represent Jesus. And maybe you are experiencing that today.

In verse 25, Paul speaks of his ministry as a stewardship from God to make God’s message “fully known.” This message, he says is a “mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints” (verse 26).

Just what is this long-hidden mystery? Back in Ephesians 3:6 Paul described it as the union of Gentiles and Jews in one body, the church. Here in Colossians Paul describes the mystery as “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (verse 27). So, here is the mystery: Christ lives in all believers. Jewish and Gentile Christians alike are now united in the body of Christ. And together, we are looking forward to sharing in the glory of Christ forever.

Paul then goes on to warn this little church that they need to continue growing wiser in spiritual maturity. He does not just want them to grow older in Christ but to grow up in Christ.

Now as we arrive at chapter 2, the first seven verses give us Paul’s ministry objective for these believers—Christians of all ages at this point in time.

Some of you know what it is like when your adult children are out of the house and facing their own challenges and difficulties in life. You never stop being a parent, do you—no matter how old they are? There are times you wish you could be there to help them through all the details, but it is not possible—and it is not advisable either. But you certainly remain concerned about them and you pray for them—and frankly, they are on your heart and mind every day.

Well, Paul sounds like a parent to these spiritual children. He writes in verse 1, “I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face.”

He mentions believers in Laodicea, just ten miles west of Colossae, along with other believers in the area. He knows they are dealing with the same false teaching that is sweeping through this region; it is a heretical teaching Paul eventually will address in this letter.

Paul’s ministry objective for all of them is found in verses 2-3:

That their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

He wants them to grow in their assurance and knowledge and wisdom. He wants them to strengthen their unity in love for one another. He wants them to develop theological understanding of Christ, “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (verse 3). Knowledge is learning the truth; wisdom is living out the truth.

So, Paul’s objective, again, is that as they grow older, they will live more wisely. And why is it so important that the Colossians—and you and me—grow older and wiser? Paul answers that question in verse 4: “I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments.”

Beloved, false teachers are not always obvious; and they might not immediately sound ignorant. Often their arguments, as Paul admits, are plausible—that is, on the surface they might even seem to make sense. So, you are going to need to grow in the Word so you can spot things that are wrong.

When my children were young and we were watching something on television, whenever a commercial came on, I would tell them, “Okay, I want you to spot the lie in this commercial.” I wanted them to tell me what that commercial was suggesting or implying that was not true. After the commercial they would tell me, “Daddy, they tried to tell us that if we bought that product, we would be happy, or successful, or popular.”

Beloved, we need to be able to spot the lies all around us today.

Paul is concerned because he cannot be present with them. He says in verse 5, “For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit.” In other words, “You have my faithful prayer support as you continue growing up in Christ.”

And what is growing up in wisdom going to look like? Paul describes it this way, here in verses 6 and 7:

As you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

“Walk in him.” That is the same thing as saying “walk with Him”—and that is the answer to many of the questions and struggles you are going to face today. Growing older and wiser is nothing more than learning to walk with Christ; so, let us walk with Him today.