Compulsion Vs Choice

 

Philemon 14

What an interesting concept we find in verse 14, “but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own free will.”  Many a parent has adopted this conception in child rearing only to understand later, that first must come consistent training, and training based on the precepts found in the Bible will produce children with values and standards of how to make good choices.  If you want to see a total disaster, raise a child letting them make the choices, with no guidance, that’s not someone you want to be within ten miles of. 

Now in the very brief information we have on Philemon, we see a man who loves Jesus Christ, who has a kingdom mindset.  Paul tells us that a church meets in his house, and that he has heard of his love for the Lord, and for all the saints.  He also shares that Philemon is being used by God to refresh the hearts of the saints.  In verse 19, Paul tells us that it is he who introduces Philemon to Jesus Christ. 

With that background on Philemon, the wisdom of God is very clear, Philemon has a desire to put others before self, but much more important is this fact; he has a heart to please God, to be about the things of God.  Paul knew this truth, that a person of good character will always far exceed your expectations when given a choice over a command.

I could not find any other mention of Philemon in the Bible, but I did find that Onesimus was referred to also in Colossians 4:9.  Paul wrote Colossians and Philemon while he was imprisoned in Rome.  It would also make sense that the very personal letter to Philemon was sent before he wrote to the church at Colossae.  We find in verses 7-9, Paul introduced Tychicus to the saints at Colossae, and along with him are Paul’s words, “and with he, Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you.  They will tell you of everything that has taken place here.”

Onesimus returns home as a son of Paul in the faith, and a brother to his master Philemon.  At one time Philemon saw Onesimus as property; his value was 30 pieces of silver - about a month's salary.  If a runaway slave could be retrieved, he could be sold or he could be punished, by a lashing.  It is apparent from Colossians 4:9, that Philemon chose to receive him back as a brother.  Is that not your story and mine, we all sinned, we all ran away from the authority of God, but He redeemed us by the shedding of His only Son’s blood.  God has every right to demand to use compulsion, but instead He lets us choose to receive by faith, by our free will, all the blessings of son-ship. 

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice