Jump Start # 3660
Philemon 1-2 “Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon our beloved brother and fellow-worker, and to Apphia our sister, and to Archippus our fellow-soldier, and to the church in your house”
Our verse today is how the book of Philemon opens. In reading this the other day, I learned something. I had always thought that this was a private letter to Philemon about the situation with the run-a-way Onesimus. Colossians, the companion letter was read to the church, and this letter was handed to Philemon and was something between him and Paul.
Our opening verse shows that isn’t the way it happened. There are four “to”s in this first sentence. The letter was TO Philemon, but also TO Apphia, likely his wife, and TO Arhippus, another Christian in that household, and TO the church. TO the church. Actually, there were TWO letters that came. One was Colossians and the other was Philemon, but both were to be read to the church.
This shows a shift in what took place. The situation between Onesimus and Philemon wasn’t just a personal or private matter. It wasn’t just about them. It included the church. As the letter reveals Paul’s heart and feelings about the situation and his thoughts are directed specifically towards Philemon, this is something that others would have known. The letter isn’t private from us and it wasn’t from the church back then.
This is a wonderful reminder to us that our journey isn’t private and our problems are not private.
· Your fears and worries are not just about you
· Your struggles are not just about you
· Your behavior is not just about you
· Your attitude is not just about you
· Your battles are not just about you
· Your sin is not just about you
· Your relationship issues are not just about you
· Your faith is not just about you
· Your fellowship is not just about you
· Your journey with Christ is not just about you
· Your death is not just about you
A run-a-way slave and his master was not just something between the two of them. What would happen, affected the church and would impact their fellowship with everyone.
From this, some thoughts for us:
First, the more we try to keep aspects of our life private and secret, the more we hurt ourselves. The nature of the kingdom, is that the church is a loving and helpful community of like believers. Alone, we suffer. Alone, we run out of ideas. Alone, all we see is our perspective. With one another, we welcome the voices of experience, wisdom and the helping hands of those who love us.
It’s hard to pull the curtain back and be honest and open about our need for help. Such openness leaves us vulnerable and it is risky. It reveals that we do not have all the answers and that we need the help of each other. It is much easier to wear the masks of denial and pretend everything is fine when it is not.
Second, most times one will find out that others have journeyed the same path that we are now on. We feel embarrassed. We think that people will question our faith. But when love is expressed, we learn that we are not the only one to suffer this way. Listening to others who have already made it through those long dark valleys is helpful. They can tell you what works and what doesn’t work. It is helpful to see that there is sunshine on the other side of the valley. The nights can seem so long, when one tries to carry the troubles alone.
Third, there is a level of accountability that comes with revealing what is going on in our life. Had the church not also read the letter to Philemon, they may not have known about Onesimus’ conversion and how helpful he was to Paul. When others know, they can offer help. They can check in and see if we are making progress. They help us stay in the lane of faith.
To the church…it’s not just about me.
Roger