Philemon 8-11
Have you ever returned an item you had purchased? I have seen people return perfectly good tools for a full refund, after they were used once, because they were no longer needed. It has been estimated that retail businesses world wide lose 600 billion dollars to returns with retail sales in North America making up almost 1/3 of the total amount lost. The numbers are astounding but we should not be surprised because that is a human reaction. When something no longer serves our purpose we seek to remove it in a way that will benefit us. That is exactly what Paul is trying to avoid as he writes Philemon about Onesimus, his run away slave. As the owner, Philemon had a number of options in dealing with Onesimus, including death. Paul makes his appeal for Onesimus who is a new person through his belief in Christ as savior (10) which results in a new relationship and value for this slave (11). Paul could have forced Philemon to do what he wanted (8). Instead, he made his appeal to Philemon that he base his reaction to Onesimus on the love of God (9). Today we face many relational challenges where our world tells us that we have the right to respond a certain way. The question is, how would God want you to respond? God is calling us to find the value in others because He loved us first (1 John 4:19).
For more see PHILEMON
Have you ever returned an item you had purchased? I have seen people return perfectly good tools for a full refund, after they were used once, because they were no longer needed. It has been estimated that retail businesses world wide lose 600 billion dollars to returns with retail sales in North America making up almost 1/3 of the total amount lost. The numbers are astounding but we should not be surprised because that is a human reaction. When something no longer serves our purpose we seek to remove it in a way that will benefit us. That is exactly what Paul is trying to avoid as he writes Philemon about Onesimus, his run away slave. As the owner, Philemon had a number of options in dealing with Onesimus, including death. Paul makes his appeal for Onesimus who is a new person through his belief in Christ as savior (10) which results in a new relationship and value for this slave (11). Paul could have forced Philemon to do what he wanted (8). Instead, he made his appeal to Philemon that he base his reaction to Onesimus on the love of God (9). Today we face many relational challenges where our world tells us that we have the right to respond a certain way. The question is, how would God want you to respond? God is calling us to find the value in others because He loved us first (1 John 4:19).
For more see PHILEMON
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