The Onesimus Factor

Well done, good and faithful [and useful] servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” Matthew 25:23 NIV

It’s often said, “I couldn’t have done it without you.” I'd like to add, “Thank you so much for helping so generously.”

The apostle Paul wrote to his friend Philemon, saying that he was returning the runaway slave Onesimus. (Onesimus’ name meant “useful.”) Mr. Useful had actually made himself indispensable to the Christian community, and his living testimony of usefulness and willingness to serve inspired Paul to implore Philemon to treat the returning runaway slave not as a criminal, but as a brother in Christ—an equal.

In our society, we might apply the principle to professional ministers and the “lay” Christians who volunteer considerable amounts of time, expertise, and financial resources. The professional clergy and their paid staff, organized ministries, or churches could not function without a community of true believers—believers in the cause of the gospel of Christ.

And what is the gospel? It's the good news that God is a personal God, who passionately desires to have an intimate experience with you now and forever.

Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount that doing the acts of righteousness and giving alms to the needy are godly acts (Matthew 6:1), but to keep them quiet. Because God acts with justice, mercy, compassion, forgiveness, and love, and because we want to be like Him in all things, we are moved to go where we are needed, to liberate those in bondage, to bring Jesus’ healing balm to His children. When we do the acts of righteousness unselfishly and without expecting reward or payment, we not only strengthen those we serve, but ourselves as well, knowing that we have been instruments in the hands of God.

Run or walk to raise funds for a charity. Sign up to teach, carry equipment, lay block, or raise a roof. Sponsor a needy child or orphan in a foreign country (the picture is of one of my sponsored children). Pray for your local church, denomination, and your favorite ministries regularly. Volunteer to work one afternoon a month at the food bank. Advocate in a CASA program at your local court system. Donate blood. Tutor at an after-school program. Develop relationships with children in a poor neighborhood and mentor them on the weekends with outings, as some of my friends do.

God doesn’t need our money or our muscle to “finish His work.” He can just speak the word and it's perfectly created. But we need to exercise both action and finances to build faith and trust in His providence. Volunteering is ultimately for our own good! Simple acts of usefulness really can change the world.

Deeply, From the Heart

Love one another deeply, from the heart. 1 Peter 1:22 NIV

My brother Brian is 27 months younger than I. Naturally, being the firstborn child, I “supervised” him during our childhood. When we played “school,” I was the teacher. When we rode bikes, I led. When he was naughty, I threatened to tell Mom. (Until he kept inventory of my misbehaviors—then we negotiated!)

We were not allowed to hit, pinch, slap, kick, or otherwise fight. During the inevitable spats, we kept quiet, because when Mom found out, that was trouble. Our verbal disagreements might last all of three minutes and then be forgotten, but if Mom got into it, we’d be sometimes spanked and always lectured for 30-60 minutes on why we should love each other. (Brian would maneuver a place where he could roll his eyes or make faces, while I, the dutiful if unrepentant daughter, had to maintain composure in hope of shortening the sermon.) Decades later, I remember the gist of the lectures: if all others forsake you, or if “anything happens” to your parents, your sibling is your best friend. You share more DNA with your sibling than with your parents.

After college and two years on my own, Brian and I shared a home for seven years. We learned to really like and love each other and enjoy our own company. We shared values, had the same taste in decorating, people, and food, and trusted each other with our deepest thoughts. Love has carried us through when other relationships have faltered or failed. (Hey, Mom was right!)

The brash, choleric fisherman-turned-shepherd, the apostle Peter, learned about loyal, abiding love from Jesus, who told His disciples that He had elevated their status to friends and brothers. Peter wrote: Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. 1 Peter 1:22 NIV

It’s a great blessing to love your siblings—and your brothers and sisters in the faith. It won’t just happen by proximity. You have to make it happen. But Abba Father is eager to reconcile and create bonds between His children. Ask Him now!