An Outreach Resource Ministry
A Ministry for the Millennium
"If he has wrong thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account" (Philemon 1:18)
Many people have different kinds of charge cards. It could be a Master, Visa, Capital One, or a Discover charge card. Generally when and individual shop at a place of business, the sales person ask the patron the question, "Will that be cash or charge?" When the Apostle Paul writes to Philemon, he says to him, "Charge it." Charge what? What is it that needs to be charge?
Slavery flourished in the ancient Graeco - Roman world. Onesimus flees from his estate in Colossae and goes to Rome. While in Rome, Onesimus comes under the teaching influence of the Apostle Paul who was a prisoner in Rome and shortly thereafter he accepts Jesus Christ as his Savior and Lord.
The Apostle Paul knew Onesimus' master, Philemon a Christian who was well known in Colossae. Paul pleads on behalf of Onesimus who became his spiritual son in Christ. He tell Philemon while he was in prison, he became Onesimus' spiritual father. He reminded Philemon of how Onesimus was once no use to him but now he was useful to both of them. Therefore he tells Philemon, I am sending him back to you and my heart goes with him. If you think of me as your partner in the Lord, please welcome him back, just as you would welcome me (Philemon 1:17). Whatever he owes you "charge it to my account." Paul adds I should not have to remind you that you owe me.
In life to have a bank account is necessary, good and a worthy pursuit. But if we have only money in our life's account, then we are very poor spiritually. There is no need to be spiritually poor or bankrupted. The Apostle Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 8:9, "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich." Do you have an account in life other than a financial account? If Jesus is on the throne of your heart you do. As one has observed, "The measure of a life after all, is not it duration but its donation." Deposit something creative in life's bank. Be a plus person not a minus person. Many people will take note of the fact that you have been with Jesus Christ.
Be Blessed!
Pastor Thelma Gilbert
"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God..." (1 John 4:7)
Pastor Thelma Gilbert
For more information write or call us at:
Pastoral Resource Ministries, Inc.
P.O. Box 7232, Bloomfield, CT 06002
Phone (860) 243-2168 - Fax: (860) 242-1838
email: prministrie@snet.net
