Most of us have heard it, and some of us say it, “There is no I in T E A M.” This simple old saying has much truth within it, and the concept is valuable for those who learn it. There is a greater benefit to having numbers of people working together to accomplish a goal rather than an individual, and although there are some events that seemingly depend upon one person, usually if we look deeply enough there were many people involved. Such was the case with Paul the apostle. He had a team of men who worked with him, and as we begin to close the book of Philemon, Paul mentions some of those team members. He wrote in verse twenty-four:
Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlaborers.
Yesterday we read about Epaphrus who was an endeared minister in the Colossee area and known unto Philemon, and today four more names are added to Paul's entourage. Marcus was the nephew of Barnabas who is found in the book of Acts and was very instrumental in presenting Paul to the disciples after his conversion. Marcus or John Mark of which he is also known was not as well received by Paul at one time because he left Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey. Regardless of that situation, we now see Marcus with Paul, and he is commended as a fellow-laborer.
Paul mentions Aristarchus who was also a traveling companion of Paul's. We read of him in the book of Acts:
And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre. Acts 19:29
And entering into a ship of Adramyttium, we launched, meaning to sail by the coasts of Asia; [one] Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us. Acts 27:2
The next mentioned is Demas who also traveled with Paul and seems to have drifted away from him in later years. Paul mentions Demas in one of his last books named Second Timothy:
For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia. 2 Timothy 4:10
Finally Paul mentions Lucas or Luke who was a beloved physician who traveled with Paul on his missionary journeys and was responsible not only for writing the gospel of Luke but also the book of Acts. When we read Luke's accounts of Jesus we often incur testimony from a doctor's perspective, and having a doctor along while traveling in Paul's conditions was not a bad idea.
This is what we learn from this verse, Paul did not spread the gospel of Jesus Christ alone. He had fellow-laborers. He had help, and a diversity of team members only enhanced his ability to share rather than inhibit it. Sure there were different capabilities. Of course there were those who had one talent that did not have another, but being led by the Holy Spirit of God, Paul and his team were effective for the kingdom of God. Philemon was considered one of those teammates and fellow-laborers. We only benefit when we realize the value of a team of people working together to accomplish efforts in spreading the gospel, and perhaps today's verse will remind us of the value of working together with
others as we continue our own personal relationship with God.
Next time we will finish the book of Philemon with a final greeting that is one we would all desire, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow...there is more...
Look for the new devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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