Jump Start # 120

Philemon 21 “Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, since I know that you will do even more than what I say.”

  This is a wonderful verse! Philemon is unique for several reasons. First, it is one of five books of the Bible that have only one chapter. Do you know the other four? Think about it. I’ll tell you at the end of this Jump Start. Second, it’s Paul shortest letter. Third, it is a letter that really doesn’t deal with the church but forgiveness and restoration. Fourth, what Paul was asking was hard on all parties involved.

  The story: Onesimus was a slave owned by Philemon, who lived in Colossae. The slave ran away. He made his way to where Paul was. Somehow they met and the slave became a Christian. He stayed and served Paul and was very helpful to Paul. Now the delimma: The right thing for Onesmius to do would be to go back to Philemon. He was a runaway. He was stilled owned by him. Many runaways were abused, crippled and a few killed when their masters caught them. Onesimus didn’t know how he would be treated. Philemon was a Christian. Paul was begging him to treat the slave as a brother in Christ, including granting him forgiveness. If Philemon did that, what would other slaves do? What would other slave owners think? And then there was Paul. He would be lacking a useful servant.

  It’s easy to say, “Finders keepers, loser weepers.” But that’s not the right thing to do. The slave had to return. So Paul sent this letter. Everything had changed once the slave became a Christian. He wouldn’t run anymore, because he had obligations and commitment.

   At the end of this letter, Paul lists five names of Christians who are with him who send their greetings. One is Mark. The Mark that ran from Paul and deserted him on his first preaching journey. The same Mark that Paul and Barnabas argued over and caused them to part ways. He’s there. He’s with Paul. I tend to think Paul learned and gave a second chance. Now he is wanting Philemon to do the same. Once we have grasped a lesson ourselves and have lived with the principles, it is so much easier to teach others.

  Paul writes in our verse today, “…I know you will do more than what I say.” Wow! That’s powerful. Who does that today? Wouldn’t parents be amazed if their children did more than what they say? How about school teachers? How about bosses? We aim for average and that’s usually what we get. Just get by. Just do enough. How about the spirit that says, “I’m doing more than what is expected?” That’d make a difference in marriage. That’d make a difference in the church. That’d make a difference in your walk with the Lord.

  Don’t settle on just getting by. Today, try to do more than what is said. Some may say, “you don’t have to do that.” But you’ll want to. Some may think you have selfish motives. “You’re trying to butter the boss up,” or, “you’re trying to get a promotion.” No. Just doing more than expected—what a world that would be if everyone lived that way. What families….what marriagers…what churches…what Christians! It starts with you. Do more than what is expected.

(The five one chapter books in the Bible: Obadiah, Philemon, 2 John, 3 John, Jude.)

Roger