I’m not totally incompetent when it comes to home
maintenance, general repair, and basic mechanical fixes. Early on I learned
which end of the screwdriver to hold and to twist the green wires together.
There was even a time when I served as a site supervisor for Habitat for
Humanity, a home building ministry.
However, I’m not sure I have fully experienced “a well-oiled
machine.”
I’m fully aware of what the saying implies—the idea that
something functions so smoothly, so accurately, so “as-intended” that it hums
along perfectly. Theoretically, this is a very attractive notion, even idyllic.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if something… anything!... worked exactly as it
should? It is easy to understand why we yearn for an experience of “a
well-oiled machine”; so much of our lives are NOT that way. The potential for
things to work smoothly is always there, but things never seem to be that way.
When you read the closing of Paul’s letter to the
Colossians, it is easy to get a sense of “the well-oiled machine.” Paul writes
glowingly of his companions, noting their faithfulness, upholding their
virtues, and inspiring us with their godliness. It would be easy to think, “ah,
here’s a perfect group of Christians, the unity of the brethren”! Alas, all is
not as it seems…
Paul mentions ten men (and one woman) by name. Most of
these, we know nothing about. If all we have is Paul’s word for them, they seem
to be stellar examples of the godly life Paul is advocating for throughout the
book of Colossians. However, of the ten, we know a bit more about a couple: and
suddenly, the well-oiled machine doesn’t appear to be working so well.
Of Demas, Paul will later write: “He deserted me, because he
loved the world” (2 Timothy 4:10). Mark had earlier deserted Paul during his
first missionary journey, and this caused a significant breach in Paul’s
relationship with Barnabas (Acts 15). Onesimus was a runaway slave, betraying
his master in a way that Paul seeks to smooth over (Philemon). All in all, not
such a idyllic group of companions after all.
So, how do we think about this group of Christians? How should
we think about any group of Christians? How should we think about OUR group of
Christians here at Hebron? Wouldn’t it be glorious if we functioned as a
“well-oiled machine,” if there was love and brotherhood in abundance, if every
interaction was shaped by abundant love? Well, of course! We have this ideal in
our minds, because that is exactly the ideal Christ Himself is working toward.
Then why do we so often fall so far short of this? Why does
our machine function so erratically? Well, obviously, because, like Paul and
his companions, we live in a broken and sinful world. Exactly the world that
Christ, our Savior, died to redeem. Our fellowship is fractured until our sin
is covered by our Lord. Our unity as brothers and sisters is in pieces until we
find ourselves in Christ together. The machine is not well-oiled until it is
oiled by the blood of Jesus.
Paul’s companions were a terrific bunch of folks—it is clear
that God used them powerfully for His Kingdom. But, the presence of sin, and
the impact of this world, takes its toll. In the end, it is not their own
abilities or strengths that brought this group together—it was the salvation of
Christ in each life. It is that same salvation we have in Jesus that will bring
us as well into that perfect unity. All made possible by our incomparable
Christ!
As you prepare for worship this week, consider meditating on
Colossians 4:7-18.
1. What do you know of each of the men and
women listed here?
2. What characteristics do they share in
common? What actions are they commended for?
3. Paul distinguishes between “the men of the
circumcision” and those who are “one of you.” What is he talking about?
4. Paul encourages his readers to also read
the letter to the Laodiceans (vs 16). No such letter has survived for us today.
What might this mean for us?
5. In verse 18, Paul says he writes this
greeting with his own hand. What is important about that? Why does he emphasize
this?
6. Why would Paul want us to “remember his
chains?”
7. A number of times, Paul says that his
friends will “tell you all about my activities”. Why is this an important thing
for Christians today as well?
8. “Greetings” is a frequent part of this
section. Is there anything for us to learn here?
