Colossians 2:1-3

For 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, 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.

-Colossians 2:1-3

Paul wants them to know that he has struggled quite a lot for them and those at Laodicea and those who haven't seen him face to face.  What is the purpose of Paul telling them this?  The goal is for their encouragement.  He wants them to be encouraged by the fact that he has struggled a lot for them.  He also hopes that it will help grow their love for one another.  Another thing is that they may grow in understanding and knowledge of God's mystery.  Here again we see that the mystery is equated with Christ.  It is slightly different, since it was earlier equated to "Christ in you".  In any case, we see in general that Paul is doing things for the brothers.  What's also interesting is that it isn't for help in their temporal circumstances that Paul hopes for them.  Paul's hope for them goes beyond those things.  His hope is for their encouragement, love and understanding.  Thinking in this way changes how we pray and serve one another.  It doesn't mean we neglect the difficult circumstances we find ourselves in.  However, we should focus more on looking forward to the kinds of things that Paul cares about.  We are not to be nearsighted, but looking ahead to Christ, "in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge".