Philemon 1:7-10

Philemon 1:7-10 Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints. Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, yet I appeal to you on the basis of love. I then, as Paul — an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus — I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains. Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.

Mark 10:28-31 Peter said to him, “We have left everything to follow you!” “I tell you the truth,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields — and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

Philemon was a servant of God, a strong follower of Jesus Christ. Therefore, he probably would have succumbed to Paul's wishes concerning Onesimus no matter what they were; however, Paul did not approach Philemon with his authority as an apostle but as a fellow brother IN CHRIST and as a friend. Jesus said his followers would have many homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields. Onesimus, Philemon, and Paul were all IN CHRIST, part of the family of God. They were brothers and sons IN CHRIST. Paul, because he was old, considered Onesimus to be his son, for Onesimus was serving him as a son would serve his father. Consequently, Paul was protective of Onesimus; he was concerned about his future. He wanted the best for Onesimus, and he wanted him to be free. Yet Paul did not use his authority to order his brother IN CHRIST, Philemon, to do the right thing; rather, he beseeched Philemon to do the right thing. He exhorted him to free Onesimus, for he knew that this once useless slave would now serve Philemon with vigor either as a freeman or as a slave, for just as Philemon's heart had been changed, Onesimus' heart had been changed.

Do we function in the world with a changed heart or do we still function in the world with the old man or woman's heart? Do we treat people as Christ would treat them or do we treat them as the carnal, fleshly person would treat them? As I see Christians heckling, booing, and angrily shouting at their representatives in Congress, I wonder what kind of heart these people are manifesting. I suspect the heart of the old man or woman, supposedly dead at the cross. We can resurrect the old person anytime our fleshly passions get the best of us, but that does not further the cause of Christ. Paul in the above passage could have demanded his way. He could have lambasted Philemon for treating his slave so poorly that he forced him to flee from his presence. He could have made all kinds of claims against Philemon's personal integrity. He could have reminded Philemon of the fruit of the Spirit and how "real" Christians' love always protects, never keeps records of wrong. But he didn't, he treated Philemon with kindness and consideration. He just reminded him that we are all brothers IN CHRIST, and as members of the same family, we should treat each other well, always looking out for the best interests of our brothers and sisters IN CHRIST.

Paul treated Philemon as we should treat our friends, loved ones, and people in the world. He treated him as Christ treated us. Christ died for us; He was willing to go the second mile. Are we like that or are we like the stubborn mule that sits down and will go no further? Do we balk and become boorish? Do we yell, scream, holler, even lie to get our way? Philemon is a good book to read often because it reminds us of servanthood, of how we should deal with each other even when we have power to force our will upon others. Jesus, the King of kings, was a servant. We also should be servants for that is our reasonable service, our privilege, our joy, as children of God and joint heirs with Christ Jesus.