Think of some of your achievements in life – How hard did you work for it? At what cost? Was it worth it?
Think of something that you still want to achieve – how difficult does that task seem? What is the cost? Will it be worth it?
There is a ‘drive’ within us that pushes us to “REALLY GO FOR…” the things we are passionate about.
We want to be the best! We want to master it!
Context of our text is: it was written about 60AD by Paul who writes an epistle (A specially long, formal letter) from Rome to Philemon, who is in Colossae, to address a certain situation.
3 main characters:
- Paul:
- He was Saul, a Pharisee who persecuted Christians, until he met Jesus (via audible voice, after Jesus’ death) and become Paul who promoted Christianity.
- He was under house arrest in Rome, under military guard, for his faith.
- He is the Spiritual Father of Philemon.
- Philemon:
- o Wealthy member of the church of Christ in Colossae.
- o Committed Christian - He hosts or holds a church in his house.
- o He has slaves.
- Onesimus (ó-nes´i-mus) – profitable/useful:
- Met Paul in Rome where he had his conversion experience.
- A competent helper to Paul in evangelising the Gospel, whose work was very acceptable to Paul.
- Paul referred to him as “his own son” (in the faith).
- Paul would have kept Onesimus as one of his right hand men but He needed to send him to Colossae, to Philemon. Why?
- Onesimus was a runaway slave who belonged to Philemon.
- We do not quite know what the reason was for running away or how he came into contact with Paul in the first place, be his life changed when that happened. Now he has to make things right.
This is the letter: Philemon 1 (TNIV)
- Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker,
- to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier and to the church that meets in your home:
- Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
- I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers,
- because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints.
- I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.
- 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.
- I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you.
- I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel.
- But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favour you do will be spontaneous and not forced.
- Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back for good—
- no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord.
- So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me.
- If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me.
- I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your very self.
- I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.
- Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.
- And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers.
- Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings.
- And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers.
- The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
As we have seen, there are three main characters. We can learn something from each one.
At some point in our lives we will find ourselves be one of these characters.
So let’s start with uncle Paul:
Paul really appreciates Onesimus.
But his conscience tells him that he needs to do what was right.
He needs to send Onesimus back to Colossae, to Philemon.
He could’ve made any excuse to keep Onesimus there, like; “Colossae is so far away” or “Philemon is a Christian, he will and must forgive Onesimus”, etc.
But as soon as he hears what Onesimus did, he realised that if he was blasé about this, his conscience would be tainted with the idea that he is aiding and embedding a wrong doing, and in so, betraying Philemon and in so, betraying Christianity and all that he stands for.
Paul knows, this insight will soak up his energy as it plagues his thoughts.
So, instead of being blasé, he chose to be intentional in respecting God’s will.
Check out Pauls approach to this situation:
- o He doesn’t write the letter for the runaway slave,
- o Nor does he keep him.
- o He sends Onesimus to face Philemon, face-to-face!
Because He is locked up, he cannot go with to help Onesimus, so he sends
Tychicus (another hard working Christian) along with Onesimus.
Colossians 4:7-9 “Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts. He is coming with Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. They will tell you everything that is happening here.”
Why did Paul do this? Because he knew how great the temptation is not to do what is right!
Paul, also, never told Philemon what to do either.
In his letter, he was merely being stern in telling Philemon that, before he decides what he is going to do with Onesimus, he must not forget what it cost for him to become a Christian and what it means to live like one. He need to remember the gift of salvation; Eph 2:8 “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,”
Paul focused on two things:
- Helping Onesimus to stand up and be counted.
- Remind Philemon to show the same grace that was shown to him.
Paul orchestrated reconciliation and not division in the body of Christ.
He helps his fellow believers, and us, to see the bigger picture and helps them act on it.
He did this to please God and Do what was right!
What can we learn?
Whenever we face a situation, we need to ask ourselves, “Am I orchestrating reconciliation or division in the body of Christ?”
How often don’t we tell or encourage others to do what is right, in fear of what they may think of us? Often, we would rather stand back a say, “I don’t want to get involved. It’s not my problem.” Well, that's rubbish, because that is exactly what Satan wants.
When Christians aren’t doing what is right and going the distance, he starts becoming masters over their lives.
Paul would not allow himself nor Onesimus to become Satan’s slaves through accepting a ‘distant’ sin.
The truth is, like Paul, it is our problem. Do you know what we call that? Accountability! You are your brother’s/sister’s keeper in the Faith. Especially when they need you to help them make right.
Lesson: HOW FAR WILL YOU GO TO HELP OTHERS TO MAKE RIGHT?
Personal story: (Me: helping people do what it right by simply being with them when they confront the person or people they need to confess to.)
o Supporting people/ walking alongside them = successful process.
Secondly, Let’s have a look at Mr Phil:
Weird concept: Philemon owned Onesimus.
If anything of yours is stolen you call the person who stole it ‘a thief’ right?
Now what about this case? Onesimus was Philemon’s property. He ran away, so technically stealing what belonged to Philemon.
This is why Paul said, “Whatever he owes you, Charge it to my account but don’t forget what I cost you to become a Christian”.
Philemon is challenged to remember God’s perfect grace and show the same to the person who did him wrong.
Whenever I am faced with a situation and feel I have the right to justify my feeling because if what someone did to me, I am quickly reminded of what Jesus did for me.
Personal story: (Me: Quickly forgiving someone who has hurt me because I have been forgiven. God loves and has forgiven us equally.)
Lesson: HOW FAR WILL YOU GO TO ACCEPT THOSE WHO ARE TRYING TO DO RIGHT?
Lastly, Onesimus:
Onesimus had it tough. Although he had been elevated to human status by Paul, he had to do some work.
- Slaves were not considered as humans in the old biblical times but were considered as disposable objects.They were executed for the smallest things.
- Now, as a runaway slave, Onesimus, has a huge task ahead of him. He had to go ask for forgiveness and set things right with Philemon. Not for himself, but to honour God who he serve so diligently.
- Did he arrive? Yes, because he never destroyed the letter and vanished. He was the letter carrier along with Tychicus, his accountability partner, to the church in Colossae.
Check this out… it was a Looooong Journey from Colossae to Rome:
- 1600km – as the crow flies. Walking at 30km/day = 2 months.
- 2600km – the fasted land bound route to Rome, according to Google™ Earth. Walking at 30km/day = 3 months AT LEAST. So Can you imagine his face when Paul told him to go back to Rome, 2600km, to say ‘sorry’.
- But Obediently he went.
- Everyday, for at least 3 months, he must have wrestled with the thoughts “What if?” and “But I must!”.
o What if = I get killed; not forgiven; thrown back into slavery; etc.
o But I must = Obey to God; honour God; honour requests of Spiritual leaders, etc.
- It’s the wrestle between the Fear of doing what is right and the Obedience of doing the right.
How often do we face those two conflicting thoughts? EVERYTIME WE HAVE TO DO THE RIGHT THING! Why? Because we either Honour God in obedience or we listen to Satan as he scares us not to honour God. Who will you side with?
Personal story: (Me: Confessing to someone dear to me for something I did that caused division between us).
Lesson: HOW FAR WILL YOU GO TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT AND HONOUR GOD?
In v21 – Paul says to Philemon. “Confident of your obedience…knowing that you will do even more than I ask”. Paul knew the character of Philemon was top class! He knew Philemon was a fake Christian because he lived what he believed. So much so, that he would hold nothing back in honouring God, and Paul’s request.
How far would you go to do the right thing? Are people confident in your character as you serve God? Especially in living what you believe in? Or is your character questionable as you are view as a convenient/fake Christian?
Like Paul, Philemon and Onesimus remembered; We must NOT forget what this all cost for us to become Christians.
Jesus went all the way for you!
How far will you go?
Paul: HOW FAR WILL YOU GO TO HELP THOSE TO MAKE RIGHT?
Philemon: HOW FAR WILL YOU GO TO ACCEPT THOSE WHO ARE TRYING TO DO RIGHT?
Onesimus: HOW FAR WILL YOU GO TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT?
HOW FAR WILL YOU GO TO HONOUR GOD?
