Can you Help Me Express my Humble Love for Christ?
Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus— that I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains. But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do would not seem forced but would be voluntary. So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask. And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers.
Philemon 1:8–10, 14, 17–17, 20–22 NIV Read More
What Paul does in the letter to Philemon flies in the face of our cultural pride and self-sufficiency. Paul, who is just about as powerful and close to the Lord as can be, asks for help.
Asking another person for help reduces us to the true people that we really are. We are in need of others. We are incapable of doing much of anything of worth or value by ourselves. Jesus said “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. (ESV) John 15:5” Apart from Christ, we can’t bear any fruit, and one of the surest ways to know that we are with Christ is to be with His people.
Whether it is hospitality, like at the end of Philemon, or a difficult favor, like at the beginning, sharing in each other’s needs draws us closer together as the Body of Christ. How many of us LOVE it when someone asks us for help? Instead of being the burden that the asker thinks they will be, the request for help turns into an excuse for us to show our love for one another. How many times do you hear “Thank you so much for asking me!” after a favor is fulfilled?
Let us break out of our pride of John Wayne Christianity that doesn’t need any help. Let’s give up the pride of self-sufficiency and become a fellowship of people that really need each other. Christ wasn’t too proud to ask for a drink of water, some dinner, or even a donkey. He deserved all of the pride He could have drawn to Himself, but instead He showed humility and dependence so that others could express their love to Him.
As we ask others for help, we help them express their love for Christ and us, and the kingdom of Heaven expands.
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