April 17, 2007

Do me a favor

Favors - When you ask for a favor from a person, the natural respond would be I will owe you one later. 

I was on vacation down in San Diego last week and I did some surfing.  I dread it at times because putting the wetsuit on is such a chore.  I always have to ask someone if they can help me pull my neck piece over my head.  Its part of the wetsuit for extra warmth and it’s a drag asking someone to help me with it.  I approached a woman and asked her if she could do me a favor and help me with the neck piece and zip my suit for me.  Naturally she said yes but I just don’t like having to ask. 

Unlike asking a favor of a good friend, I didn’t have to repay her or feel obligated to give the favor in return.  If she needed one, I would have granted it no questions asked. 

Recently, I read the book of Philemon in my Bible and was inspired by The Lord.  I was thinking about the idea of asking for a favor and was reminded of this book.

The Apostle Paul is writing this book to one of his friends and converts named Philemon.  Paul is asking him a big favor.  Another of Paul’s converts is named Onesimus.  We find out in the book that Onesimus is a runaway slave.  He meets Paul and The Lord uses Paul to convert this runaway slave to Christianity.  Awesome story right; Jesus does this all the time.  After this great conversion, Paul finds out about Onesimus’s past and that he is the runaway slave of Philemon, one of Paul’s close friends.

Philemon 1 (New King James Version)

The Plea for Onesimus
  
10 I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains, 11 who once was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you and to me. 12 I am sending him back.[e] You therefore receive him, that is, my own heart, 13 whom I wished to keep with me, that on your behalf he might minister to me in my chains for the gospel. 14 But without your consent I wanted to do nothing, that your good deed might not be by compulsion, as it were, but voluntary. 15 For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever, 16 no longer as a slave but more than a slave—a beloved brother, especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

In verses 10 through 16 Paul is asking Philemon to forgive Onesimus, receive him back as a Brother in Christ, and then let him go back to Paul to help with the Ministry.

Paul says that at one time Onesimus was unprofitable to Philemon but now he is profitable to him and Philemon.  Not only is he a changed man this Onesimus but he is now a Brother in Christ to him and Philemon.  Philemon has a legal right to have Onesimus put to Death because he is Philemon’s property.    

Paul is saying Philemon I know Onesimus did a bad thing.  I know he deserves to be punished.  I know you might even be mad about this but God was working in this entire situation for His eternal purpose of advancing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Philemon’s Obedience Encouraged
  
17 If then you count me as a partner, receive him as you would me. 18 But if he has wronged you or owes anything, put that on my account. 19 I, Paul, am writing with my own hand. I will repay—not to mention to you that you owe me even your own self besides.

In verses 17 through 19 Paul asks Philemon for a favor.  He asks Philemon to receive Onesimus as he would him.  Paul says that if he has wronged you or owes you anything, charge it to my account and I will repay it. 

Jesus did the same for us.  When God demanded payment for the Sins of the World, Jesus willing stepped forward and said Father charge it to my account and I will repay it. 

Our sins were charged over to Christ even though He had not earned them.  Forgiveness is costly and we could never pay for it. 

The favor that Jesus did for us could never be given in return.

What we can do is give God our lives and love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength and love our neighbor as our self. 

The Bible says in Mark 12:29-31 (NKJV)

29 Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one. 30 And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’[e] This is the first commandment.[f] 31 And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’[g] There is no other commandment greater than these.”

Do me a favor and Live for God and be all you can be for Jesus Christ in this life.  I will gladly return the favor as well!!

Be Blessed,


Joey