Profitable Onesimus Philemon 11 - Equipped for Battle

Yesterday we discovered the primary purpose for Paul the apostle's letter to Philemon. Onesimus, who stole from Philemon and was his runaway slave, was now a Christian who more than likely became one as he sat with Paul in prison. Paul was sending Onesimus back to Philemon and was interceding on his behalf. We saw that Paul has become a type of Jesus Christ who intercedes to the Heavenly Father for us and is the greatest intercessor of all. Today Paul continues his description of the now transformed Onesimus in verse eleven and uses a play on words to do so. He wrote:

Which in time past was to you unprofitable, but now profitable to you and to me:

The name “Onesimus” means “profitable”, so let's think about this for a moment. Paul is writing to Philemon about “profitable”, and he tells him, “which in time past was to you unprofitable”. In other words, Onesimus did not live up to his name. Rather than being a “profit” to Philemon, Onesimus was a liability. Onesimus ran away, and Onesimus stole from Philemon. He was indeed “unprofitable.” However, let's ask, what changed? What was it that changed in Onesimus? The answer is that he met Jesus Christ. His life was changed because he met Jesus Christ. Before we comment more, let's read more of what Paul said once again,

“but now profitable to you and to me”.

Now, because of the change in his life, Onesimus was profitable, and he was not only profitable to Philemon, but also to Paul the apostle. This is the remarkable alteration within anyone who comes to Jesus Christ and makes Him Lord of their lives. People whom many have discarded and surmised that there is no hope or profit within them can become profitable human beings. The reason they behave in the manner they do is because they have not received Jesus as Lord and Savior of their lives. The reason they run away, steal, cheat, lie and live deceptively is because they serve another Lord rather than Jesus. It should not surprise us at all when unbelievers act in pernicious and ungodly ways. It should not shock us at their language, their actions, or their attitudes. They are simply living as their natural nature dictates. Such was the case with Onesimus, until he met Jesus Christ.

The truth is that all of us were “runaways” from God the Father. All of us have stolen from Him, and we as Onesimus need someone to intercede on our behalf just as Paul did. Jesus is our intercessor. Jesus not only intercedes but He made a way for we runaway thieves to have a restored relationship with God. More than we may have realized we are much like Onesimus, and now we have seen the answer to our runaway plight. May we all bow in gratitude to our intercessor Jesus for not only speaking on our behalf, but paying the price that we may have fellowship with God the Father.

Next time we shall look at Paul's pleading in particular for Onesimus, so read ahead and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow...there is more...

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