i ask, although i have the authority to command
in philemon, paul is writing a letter to philemon. in part of it, he is asking philemon if his slave could come back to rome and help paul. in verse 8-9a paul says, "therefore, though i have enough confidence in christ to order you to do what is proper, yet for love's sake i rather appeal to you." then later on in verse 14a, "but without your consent i did not want to do anything,"
in just reading this passage, these words many say nothing important, but looking into the person of paul can tell you much more. paul, who was called saul, was raised to be a pharisee, he kept all the law as much as any man could. he was a head huncho in jerusalem. he was then converted to christianity, and became one of the greatest preachers ever. he had great authority with not only the other believers, but also with the roman guards. in Acts on his way to speak to ceaser, paul is bound on a ship, but the commander had heard of paul and allowed him to go onto shore and stay with freinds instead of prison. this shows the trust that the commander had for paul, for if paul ran, the commander died. this trust came from the reputation of a leader. paul was known all over jerusalem and the known world.
now, onto philemon, he was a rich man in the city of colosse, he was not famous out side of colosse. he was a member of the church at colosse, but not a leader of anything important.
so, back to the verses. in these verse, paul, the famous teacher, asks philemon, the wealthy man if he could use his slave. this just amazes me. all through time, the people in authority took things for granted, like people's help, or they just took advantage of the people under them. although this behavior did not depic the people in the church, it was common with the gentiles.
i often find myself, using the authority that i do not have, to make people do what i want or whatever. when someone like paul ask for help, shouldn't someone like me have to beg for it? so, i challege you who are reading this, do not use people, but let people use you. not take advantage of, but allow yourself to be advailable to help, instead of acting busy so that you dont have to work.
"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit."
in just reading this passage, these words many say nothing important, but looking into the person of paul can tell you much more. paul, who was called saul, was raised to be a pharisee, he kept all the law as much as any man could. he was a head huncho in jerusalem. he was then converted to christianity, and became one of the greatest preachers ever. he had great authority with not only the other believers, but also with the roman guards. in Acts on his way to speak to ceaser, paul is bound on a ship, but the commander had heard of paul and allowed him to go onto shore and stay with freinds instead of prison. this shows the trust that the commander had for paul, for if paul ran, the commander died. this trust came from the reputation of a leader. paul was known all over jerusalem and the known world.
now, onto philemon, he was a rich man in the city of colosse, he was not famous out side of colosse. he was a member of the church at colosse, but not a leader of anything important.
so, back to the verses. in these verse, paul, the famous teacher, asks philemon, the wealthy man if he could use his slave. this just amazes me. all through time, the people in authority took things for granted, like people's help, or they just took advantage of the people under them. although this behavior did not depic the people in the church, it was common with the gentiles.
i often find myself, using the authority that i do not have, to make people do what i want or whatever. when someone like paul ask for help, shouldn't someone like me have to beg for it? so, i challege you who are reading this, do not use people, but let people use you. not take advantage of, but allow yourself to be advailable to help, instead of acting busy so that you dont have to work.
"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit."
posted by hellfire at 2:33 PM
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