保罗在第17节提及的亚基布究竟是谁？我们对他认识很少。他可能是腓利门和亚腓亚的儿子，在老底嘉教会担任牧者一职。有人曾经说过：「经文没有明确指出亚基布的事奉岗位；因此，对他的提醒，便可概括地应用在所有人的身上。」

保罗为甚么叫人给他这句传话呢？也许他知道亚基布容易流于安逸和处事轻忽。保罗一向喜欢激励信徒，要抓紧每个机会去为主作工。

亚基布听见保罗叫人这样提醒自己，必定会大吃一惊。他的第一个反应，会是生气，还是醒觉到自己需要别人提醒呢？这句说话会对他有何影响？会不会使他的灵命得着更新？

你有甚么事奉呢？讲道？探访？关心有需要的家庭？帮助别人？你是否热诚地投入事奉？在事奉的时候，有否怀着一颗喜乐和祷告的心？请记着，这是你的事奉，不是其他人的事奉。

保罗提醒他要「尽」自己的职分。「尽」有倒满的意思。我们尝试把每个事奉机会视为一个器皿，我们便将我们生命中的一切，我们的整个人倾进去一样。许多时候，我们都是半心半意地事奉基督；但基督想要的，却是尽心尽意的事奉。

我们是否懒惰或做事轻忽？我们是否开始追求安逸？或是我们容让其他许多事情挤压着我们，以致我们不能全心全意地事奉基督？哪究竟是甚么？保罗给亚基布的那句话，是否同样提醒我们？

请再读第17节，求主帮助你能尽心尽意地事奉。我们要记着，我们是「在主里」事奉。那就是说，我们是为着祂的荣耀，靠着祂所赐的能力来事奉祂。请翻阅哥林多前书十五章58节，愿「你们的劳苦，在主里面不是徒然的」这句话，深深地激励我们。

Who was Archippus, mentioned in verse 17? We are not told very much about him. He may have been the son of Philemon and Apphia. He possibly was the pastor of the church at Laodicea. Someone has said 'The exact ministry of Archippus is unknown, and therefore the lesson of his life is directed to everyone because it includes everyone'.

Why did Paul write in this way? Perhaps he knew that Archippus had a tendency to settle down in comfort and to take things easy. Paul very often stirred people to get on with their work and to be active for Christ while there is time.

It must have been quite a shock for Archippus to hear his name mentioned in this way. Did he react first of all in anger or did he realise his need of this word? What was the result? A renewing in his own soul?

What is your ministry? Is it preaching? Is it visiting? Is it caring for the family? Is it one of helping? How energetically are you working? How cheerfully? How prayerfully? Remember it is your ministry, not someone else's.

Paul says 'fulfil it'. The word means to fill it full. Look at the opportunity for service which you have and consider it a cup or a vessel and pour into it all your life, all your being, all your being's ransomed powers. We are so half-hearted in our service for Christ. Christ wants wholehearted, brimful service, and overflowing faithfulness.

Are we lazy or careless? Have we begun to settle down and to do as little as we can? Have we allowed other things to crowd out our wholehearted service for Christ? Business, home, sport, friends or what? Do we need to take notice of the blunt words which Paul wrote to Archippus?

Read verse 17 again and ask the Lord to help you fulfil your ministry to the utmost. Remember our service is 'in the Lord'. It is by his power, for his glory, with his strength that we are to serve him. Read 1 Corinthians 15:58 and be encouraged today that your labour is never in vain in the Lord.