Discover His heart: He is blessed when we generously forgive others
As a rule, we’ll do just about anything for our good friends. We celebrate with them on their joyous occasions, and we run to them to give comfort and aid in their difficult moments. It’s disheartening to have a friendship dissolve over a dispute or offense. In our reading today, Paul was treading on dangerous ground in his friendship with Philemon.
Philemon was a prosperous businessman in Colossae who hosted the church in his home. Paul had nothing but good to say about him, “I always thank my God when I pray for you, Philemon, because I keep hearing about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all of God’s people. And I am praying that you will put into action the generosity that comes from your faith as you understand and experience all the good things we have in Christ. Your love has given me much joy and comfort, my brother, for your kindness has often refreshed the hearts of God’s people.” (4-7) A careful reader may catch that this is not just a casual letter, but one with an agenda of sorts, “praying that you will put into action the generosity that comes from your faith.” A request was coming.
Philemon’s slave from the past, Onesimus, had either stolen from him or damaged his property and had run away. This betrayal by someone he trusted had obviously caused heartache to Paul’s dear friend. Sometime later, the slave happened to encounter Paul in Rome and accepted the Lord as his Savior. Paul had some choices to make – keep Onesimus as his assistant and remain silent, turn Onesimus over to the Roman authorities where he could possibly face death or return him to Philemon for punishment.
And now the request, “That is why I am boldly asking a favor of you. I could demand it in the name of Christ because it is the right thing for you to do. But because of our love, I prefer simply to ask you…I appeal to you to show kindness to my child, Onesimus. I became his father in the faith while here in prison.” (8-10) Circumstances had changed over the course of time. Yes, Onesimus was a slave, sadly a role that was acceptable at that time, but now he was a fellow believer. Salvation is the great equalizer in life. “Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.” (I Corinthians 12:13).
Paul may have been referring to the meaning of the name “Onesimus” which means profitable or useful as he continued in his request, “Onesimus hasn’t been of much use to you in the past, but now he is very useful to both of us. I am sending him back to you, and with him comes my own heart.” (11) Paul was definitely placing their friendship on the line when he added a promise to personally pay everything Onesimus owed Philemon. He added, “I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it. And I won’t mention that you owe me your very soul!” (19)
Although this comment sounds remarkably like a major guilt trip, Paul was counting on Philemon to remember that at one time he, too, was forgiven and set free from sin. Jesus paid a debt for him that he did not owe just as Paul was willing to do for Onesimus. This personal letter of Paul’s serves to remind us all of the forgiveness and grace that has been extended to us. How could we not extend it to others?
In situations where others have cheated us or been unkind, it is so very helpful to remember that God loves them as much as He loves us. He may not like their deeds, but He sent His Son to die for that very reason. When we forgive and offer mercy to others, we are behaving like Jesus, and that could only be good.
Moving Forward: Should the occasion arise today, I choose to forgive others for any unkindness, remembering that God loves them.
Tomorrow @ Numbers 21-24
Phyllis Benigas 