A Real Friend

Philemon
1 This letter is from Paul, in prison for preaching the Good News about Christ Jesus, and from our brother Timothy.It is written to Philemon, our much loved co-worker, 2 and to our sister Apphia and to Archippus, a fellow soldier of the cross. I am also writing to the church that meets in your house. 3 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. 4 I always thank God when I pray for you, Philemon, 5 because I keep hearing of your trust in the Lord Jesus and your love for all of God's people. 6 You are generous because of your faith. And I am praying that you will really put your generosity to work, for in so doing you will come to an understanding of all the good things we can do for Christ. 7 I myself have gained much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because your kindness has so often refreshed the hearts of God's people. 8 That is why I am boldly asking a favor of you. I could demand it in the name of Christ because it is the right thing for you to do, 9 but because of our love, I prefer just to ask you. So take this as a request from your friend Paul, an old man, now in prison for the sake of Christ Jesus. 10 My plea is that you show kindness to Onesimus. I think of him as my own son because he became a believer as a result of my ministry here in prison. 11 Onesimus hasn't been of much use to you in the past, but now he is very useful to both of us. 12 I am sending him back to you, and with him comes my own heart. 13 I really wanted to keep him here with me while I am in these chains for preaching the Good News, and he would have helped me on your behalf. 14 But I didn't want to do anything without your consent. And I didn't want you to help because you were forced to do it but because you wanted to. 15 Perhaps you could think of it this way: Onesimus ran away for a little while so you could have him back forever. 16 He is no longer just a slave; he is a beloved brother, especially to me. Now he will mean much more to you, both as a slave and as a brother in the Lord. 17 So if you consider me your partner, give him the same welcome you would give me if I were coming. 18 If he has harmed you in any way or stolen anything from you, charge me for it. 19 I, Paul, write this in my own handwriting: "I will repay it." And I won't mention that you owe me your very soul! 20 Yes, dear brother, please do me this favor for the Lord's sake. Give me this encouragement in Christ. 21 I am confident as I write this letter that you will do what I ask and even more! 22 Please keep a guest room ready for me, for I am hoping that God will answer your prayers and let me return to you soon. 23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings. 24 So do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my co-workers. 25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.


I received a pleasant surprise last night. While I was surfing the Net, a strange sound erupted from my laptop. It was a sound that was vaguely familiar, yet still not one that I am used to. After determining that it wasn't a warning of some viral attack, I noticed a little box flashing in my taskbar; I was being invited to chat with someone. The person wanting tho converse with me turned out to be an old friend, a guy who was one of my groomsmen at my wedding, and one that I spent countless days with before getting married. It's funny how much time we spent together, working and cutting up back twenty plus years ago and now, we hardly ever talk. But here he was, wanting to talk. After all the normal "catching up," he got rather serious and asked if i would pray for another old friend. Some trouble had befallen this other friend and in the end all that could be done is to pray for him. I was humbled by the request. While I had forgotten to keep up with old acquaintances,my friend is still watching over them, helping as he can.

The apostle Paul knew how to watch over his friends. When he befriended a slave named Onesimus, he sends him back to his owner with the plea to treat him like a brother and to charge any debt that Onesimus may have incurred to Paul. Paul realized that friendship had to be much more than just saying that you are someone's friend; it has to be backed with action.

I am sure that my old friend would blush with the thought of me using him as an example of being a true friend, but that is what he is. When he sees a need, he steps in. When the need is beyond anything he can do physically, he assures that the person is entrusted in God's care. What a friend - what a real friend.