The book of Philemon is merely…a letter of reference or
recommendation to give a credible account of Onesimus’ progression as a
brother in Christ. Onesimus, a slave of Philemon, had become a believer
of Christ because of Philemon. Typically the head of the household was
a role model for the rest of the household in their faith! Thus, it
may have just been name sake, but Onesimus seeks Paul so deeply that
Onesimus actually runs away from Philemon and his household. Onesimus
runs and grows his faith so deeply in God (Philemon 1:14-16) that Paul
says explicitly how he fathered a child and now Onesimus is ready to be
more than just an inquisitive person, but a true Christian brother.
Paul is writing to Philemon to explain this slave is of much more value
than physical labor.
There is the context of the message, but this message was so private,
as all letters of recommendation are, yet it was so public for the rest
of humanity to see. Why? What sense does it make that Paul writes a
letter of recommendation for a slave, something so private that no other
man could see, but when God did the final draft of the Bible: this
letter makes it in the final cut? Well in order to see why God puts the
book in there, let’s take the perspective from Onesimus, previously
mentioned as the slave. In order for Onesimus to grow in his own faith,
it was necessary for him to break out or to run away from his slave
master and seek something much greater that can help him in any
situation imaginable. You see, Onesimus runs away to Paul, seeking Paul
for help in growing to Christ. Paul fathers Onesimus for a time period
and then Onesimus heads back to Philemon.
However, here’s something to really catch your attention, because I
believe the book has two purposes, two perspectives, and two different
thought processes depending on your current situation. Let us now take
the perspective of Paul, whom is imprisoned at the time. Paul takes
this guy, with Timothy by his side, and takes the time to teach his good
friend’s slave. Remember Paul is in jail at the moment, Paul is in his
most vulnerable state, times where you and I would be angry at God.
Here’s where it gets crazy though! Paul not only helps this random guy
by helping him get straight with God, but (v.15-20) “Maybe it’s all for
the best that you lost him for a while. you’re getting him back now for
good – and no mere slave this time, but a true Christian brother!
That’s what he was to me – he’ll be even more than that to you. So if
you still consider me a comrade-in-arms, welcome him back as you would
me. If he damaged anything or owes you anything, chalk it up on my
account. This is my personal signature – Paul – and I stand behind it.
(I don’t need to remind you, do I, that you owe your very life to me?)
Do me this big favor, friend. You’ll be doing it for Christ, but it
will also do my heart good.”
- Paul is writing that it’s not so bad that you lost your slave,
because now you’re not just getting back a slave but a Christian
brother! But Paul backs up Onesimus by saying that not only is he a
changed man, but that if (and I assume he did) Onesimus owes Philemon
anything that Paul will clean the entire slate of anything that he
owes. Paul will pay any debt that Onesimus has endured or accumulated
over the years. Wow. Can you imagine that? Picture how much a slave
owes his slave owner, making merely nothing? Yet Paul says to put it on
his tab, as if this is Onesimus getting a second life. But (v.21-22)
speaks of Paul and his confidence of Philemon, saying, “I know you well
enough (Philemon) to know you will (forgive his debt). You’ll probably
go far beyond what I’ve written. And by the way, get a room ready for
me. Because of your prayers, I fully expect to be your guest again!
Let’s wrap this up by putting this in our terms, with great
contextual knowledge. Paul took this guy who was a slave under his
wings and cleared everything that had every happened to this guy. How
similar does this to sound to what Jesus has done for each and every one
of us? Jesus will break us our of any bondage, issue, or anything that
we encounter if we seek Him, Jesus. Not only will Jesus get us out of
bondage, but He will literally wipe our slate clean as snow, just as
Paul does for Onesimus. You see, the reason this message was private is
because Paul wanted to be directly personal with a good friend and brag
one-on-one to Philemon about Onesimus. But the reason God felt that
this private message was so important and significant for the rest of
public humanity to view is because of the way Paul handled Onesimus.
How Paul acted exactly as Jesus would have, as we all should have. If
Paul was doing this on his spare time, in private, imagine the works of
this guy in the public? This not only teaches us what Jesus does for
us, but illustrates how we should take people under our wings and bless
them unconditionally in any way that we can. The message is so big
here, so significant, but so short and sweet as well. You could
literally read this letter in one minute, but the importance, the
context, and the significance is so great that we needed to read this
book in order to see what Jesus can do for us. It shows all three
phases of the relationship, first we must seek Him, second we must
assist others, and third we must follow the same ways of Jesus as we are
missioned to do so. Our sole purpose on Earth is to seek Jesus and to
be fishers of men and bring as many people as we can to this amazing one
that we call God! Thus we must reflect His astounding radiance to the
rest of humanity, but also in private as well.
No comments:
Post a Comment