“They have proved to be a comfort to me” (Col. 4:11 NKJ).
In Colossians 4:10-11 Paul names three dear Christian friends who were a comfort to him: Aristarchus, Mark and Justus. The Greek word translated comfort in this passage is paregoria (par-ay-gor-ee’-ah).
It is from this word that we get our English word paregoric which is a medicine that soothes and settles. Rubbed on the gums of teething infants, it immediately brings soothing relief to irritated tissues.
Paul, in a Roman prison, is chafing. He is irritated. The prison has no air-conditioning, no creature comforts, and no room service. Paul is suffering most of all from the inconvenience, the delays the wasted time spent chained up to a Roman guard. In His mercy and grace, the Lord sends three men to act as a “paregoric” to Paul. They soothe him. They calm him down and refresh him in spirit.
You can either be an irritant or a balm. You can hurt or you can heal. You can be part of the problem or part of the solution.
It is interesting to note that Job had three “consolers.” He ended up calling them miserable comforters (Job 16:2) because they added to his grief instead of relieving it. Here Paul lists three consolers who were true comforters.
Only by being indwelt by the Divine Comforter, the Holy Spirit, can we bring needed comfort to others.
“Blessed be the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our adverse circumstances, so we can comfort others in their adversity with the same comfort with which we have been comforted” (2 Cor. 1:3-4).
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers
Dick Mills was ordained at The International Church of the Foursquare Gospel in 1949. He and his wife Betty traveled as evangelists all over the United States, Canada, Mexico, Latin America, Europe, and Australia. Dick and Betty are now home in heaven.
In 1966 Dick and Betty became a part of the then-emerging Charismatic Renewal. Passing through all denominational barriers, Dick has had the opportunity to speak in thousands of churches of varied backgrounds all over the world.
He ministered within several Christian organizations, including the Full Gospel Business Men, Women's Aglow, Inter-church Renewal Catholic Pentecostals, mainline Charismatic groups, CBN and TBN television networks, and many other independent Christian TV stations.
Dick appeared on numerous radio talk shows, written several magazine articles, and spoke at many Bible conferences and universities. He served as an adjunct professor at six Schools of the Bible and Seminaries.
In addition, Dick authored and co-authored several books and tapes. Dick's ministry was characterized by the unique gifts God has blessed him with. His services informed, enlightened, and motivated people to a higher level of commitment to God.