Loving Others

Philemon12-16 I am sending Onesimus, who is my very heart, back to you. 13 I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel. 14 But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do will be spontaneous and not forced. 15 Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back for good 16 no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord.
 
WHEN you read some of Paul’s words in other letters, you see some hard words. For example: 1 Corinthians 5:5 hand this man over to Satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord. 
And in Romans 1: 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. Is this the same man who wrote the humble words of love and honor to Philemon?
    Of course it is. In each circumstance, Paul was obeying the Lord Jesus, demonstrating our Lord’s active love for us. In 1 Corinthians, he is protecting the church. An unrepentant sinner was influencing a church against God’s truth. Sin must be confronted in the church, so repentance and reconciliation keep the church in unity with God. In Romans, Paul defined sin in a very immoral culture. Jesus’ church needs to know wrong from right, so we will live right.
    As Paul, then, wrote to Philemon, he is giving up his own desires to honor a friend. Paul needed help as he was under Roman guard. A prisoner’s friends provided his food and care. They would also supply Paul with writing materials. Their presence would comfort his heart. Paul had grown to love Onesimus, who had responded to the gospel to become Paul’s close associate. But now it was time to send Onesimus back to Philemon, so the former slave could reconcile with his one-time master.
    Paul loved his neighbor as himself. He did what he would want another to do for him. His honoring words pointed Philemon to honor Onesimus.
    The unity of God’s church requires we live in God’s words. We often talk of loving one another as the second Great Command. And, indeed, it is. Our purpose is to live in that command, even if it means putting others’ needs and desires above our own.
 
Life Thought: Loving others as yourself solves many relationship problems.