Biblical Friendship

​Philemon 1:21 ~ “Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.”
 
What a tremendous gift is a godly friendship. And Paul’s friendship with Philemon was one that brought great encouragement and comfort to the apostle. Paul had led Philemon to faith in the LORD Jesus (see Philemon 1:19), and that bond of fellowship born through their mutual love for Christ gave great assurance to him when it came necessary to give instruction to Philemon. The aged apostle could have taken a different route in his directive, but chose instead to make a request based upon their mutual love. Consider what Paul said in Philemon 1:8-9, “Accordingly, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required, yet for love's sake I prefer to appeal to you.” Paul was an apostle, bold in his authority when necessary, but desiring rather to draw from Philemon a testimony of his love for the LORD and their fellow Christian, Onesimus (see Philemon 1:14).
 
And this is where our text begins for today. The Apostle Paul was, as he stated, “confident of your obedience.” What a telling statement of trust and faithfulness. Paul had no reservations concerning Philemon, had no worry that the man might lose his composure and strike hard against Onesimus when the apostle sent him back. Paul was persuaded in Philemon’s faithfulness to the LORD and could write the letter with joy and expectation of the man’s obedience. There was no confrontation, no cajoling in the letter. Paul had to issue no command nor did he need to persuade Philemon to do the right thing. The only thing that Paul appealed to was a reminder of the faith of Philemon, “I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints” (Philemon 1:4-5). Let me pose this question to you: when the word of God is presented to you, would Paul have complete confidence in your obedience? For, in truth, the LORD Jesus has used Paul to write to all of us, and our faith is tested not when we have grand feelings toward the LORD and His word, but when we determine to obey it when presented.
 
But, more than the necessary obedience from his friend, Paul had a greater expectation. He writes concerning his confidence in Philemon, “knowing that you will do even more than I say.” Paul understood the difference between obligation and desire. He wrote of his preaching in 1 Corinthians 9:16-17, “For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship.” Paul was under the obligation to preach, and yet, if he pursued it with desire rather than merely under compulsion, there was great reward. Dear ones, we must also stand up with a desire to do more than just what is required. Our LORD Jesus gave us instruction in this regard. In Matthew 5:41 Jesus says, “And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.” So, dear Christian, if we are commanded by the LORD to do this when someone forces us, how much more ought we serve each other when it is based on love?
 
This is the challenge of Biblical friendship. The world views friendships quite often as something that will be of advantage to themselves. They pursue friendships that can gain them some future benefit. But it is not so with the Christian. God has placed us in a family of those who love the LORD Jesus Christ even as we do and we have a responsibility to go that extra mile for them. Many often shrink back from this because of the fear that they will be taken advantage of, mistreated or used up. Paul gives us a principle that will help us. 2 Corinthians 8:13-14 tells us, “For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness.”
 
So, as I had asked, I will pose the question again: would Paul have the confidence to know that your obedience was assured? Let us all strive for such a life that when the word of God is opened to us by the Spirit of Christ, we would stand ready to be faithful to what He commands—and to do so with a zeal that flows from our love for Jesus.
 
In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

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