Tag: fellow-worker
Slave is now a beloved brother!
Scripture reading for October 13: Philemon
“Accordingly, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required, yet for love’s sake I prefer to appeal to you–I, Paul, an old man and now a prisoner also for Christ Jesus-I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I became in my imprisonment. (Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.) I am sending him back to you, sending my very heart. I would have been glad to keep him with me, in order that he might serve me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the Gospel, but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own accord. For this perhaps is why he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, no longer as a bondservant but more than a bondservant, as a beloved brother– . .” Philemon 8-16
This short letter of Paul to a friend, Philemon, has some beautiful insights into how Paul’s world view as a pastor and apostle shaped his attitude and thinking. Philemon was a believer who had offered Paul and the church in Colossae a meeting place in his home. Philemon had been a slave owner. His slave, Onesimus, had escaped him and was imprisoned with Paul in Rome. There, God used Paul to share the Gospel and Onesimus received salvation and became a ‘child’ to Paul and Paul now commended him back to Philemon as ‘a beloved brother.’
Paul could have used his authority as an Apostle to command Philemon to take Onesimus back and not punish him. But Paul, imprisoned and old, appealed to Philemon to do what was right and expressed confidence that Philemon would do what was right. Paul would have like to have Onesimus minister to him while he was in prison, but he sent him back because issues must be cleared up. Each one must act from their hearts and in obedience to the Holy Spirit. This reflects God’s heart of kindness and His respect for each person and their free will to choose. Love and kindness must be freely given.
Are you concerned or offended that this letter deals with a slave and a master? Is God more concerned with our heart attitudes and obedience than with our cultural circumstances such as being a slave or a master? How is God’s heart of kindness and goodness being demonstrated here by Paul?
Prayer: Father God, thank you for Your love and kindness to each person, slave or master or apostle. Help me to reflect Your heart of love and kindness in every relationship and situation. Forgive me when I have been judgmental or pushy towards others, disrespecting their personhood. Help me to appeal to others to do what is right. Amen.