Colossians 4:1-14 – Luke & Demas
The final two companions sending greetings to the Colossians demonstrate a rather dramatic contrast; Luke the loyal and faithful companion and Demas who proved to be a faithless friend.
Luke had frequently accompanied Paul on his missionary journeys (Acts 16:10-17), and had been a regular source of comfort to him and encouragement to him. As a doctor, too he would also have been a great help to Paul in his physical weakness. If there is one characteristic that stands out in Luke, it is his loyalty. He was on both the second and third missionary journeys; he was with Paul in Jerusalem and accompanies him in this imprisonment in Rome. When Paul comes to the end of his life during the second Roman imprisonment, it is Luke who is there with him when everybody else has gone (2 Tim. 4:11).
Demas, on the other hand, is portrayed in quite a different light. If the only references to Demas were the ones in Col. 4:14 and Philemon 24, he would have been seen simply as one of that faithful band of men and women who ministered to Paul. Sadly, at the end of his life Paul had to write ‘Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica’ (2 Tim 4:10). It may be that Demas simply could not face up to the rigours and dangers of life with Paul rather than that he abandoned the faith, but nevertheless, it is a sad commentary on a life that had begun well.
No wonder the Scripture urges professing believers to be on their guard lest they fall away from the profession they have made (1 Cor. 10:12). We should not be too hard or judgemental with regard to Demas for we know nothing of his circumstances, but rather use his experience as a warning not to become confident in our own strength or ability, but to rely only upon the Lord.
Questions
- How were Luke and Demas different?
Prayer Points
- Pray that you would rely on the Lord’s strength.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.