Lesson Forty Nine

A RUNAWAY SLAVE GOES HOME

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Memory Verse: Matthew 6:14
Further Study: Acts 28:11-31; Philemon; The Acts of the Apostles, pp. 447-460; The Bible Story, vol. 10, pp. 152-155

I have a few memories from when I was quite young. One made an impact although the details are sketchy. I was maybe three years old? My mother and I had been at the grocery store. In those days, peanuts were sold by bulk that you scooped into a bag. The peanuts were piled up on a large store display stand. When we checked out and got to the car, I showed my mom my great “find.” About three peanuts in my hand. Now, the fact that I showed her tells you that I didn’t realize I had done anything wrong. I do remember that I saw them and took them. Seemed like it was what they were there for. But her reaction was not happy.

Her reaction was not happy.

My mom was a teacher and if you’d done something wrong, you knew it, although I wasn’t completely sure what I had done. But after talking to me, we went back inside the store where she found the manager and I had to tell the manager what I’d done. That part of the memory is very clear. 

Onesimus was a runaway slave. He had found Paul in Rome and been completely converted to Christ. His conversion was evident in his service to Paul, but both he and Paul knew that as a runaway slave, he had to go back. I’m guessing the way I felt about returning the peanuts doesn’t come close to how Onesimus felt for what awaited a runaway slave could be death.

Paul’s letter to Philemon was asking him to offer grace to his slave.

Paul’s letter to Philemon was asking him to offer grace to his slave. He wrote the letter knowing that Philemon was a Christian and despite what he might want to do or even legally be allowed to do, Paul was asking for forgiveness and grace to be extended to Onesimus.

My mom wasn’t asking for either of those. I think she wanted the manager to give me a strong lecture to deter me from ever thinking about “stealing” again. That, however, isn’t what happened. The memory is fuzzy, but the manager gave grace—“It’s only a few peanuts.” That’s what I thought! But I will say that I’ve never taken anything from a grocery store again. The lesson was learned.

Three strong lessons emerge from Philemon to teach our children (and remember ourselves). First, there are things we shouldn’t do. In Onesimus’ case, he ran away, and it’s implied he may have stolen some money when he did so. We must encourage our children to resist temptation. Second, forgiveness is hard but it’s important. And last, if there are ways to offer grace we should do so. 

We don’t know the end of this story. We don’t know what happened to Onesimus. But we do know our story, and we need to remember every day to do what is right and to work toward forgiveness and grace to others. Even if it is to someone who did something a long time ago that hurt us or was wrong. Allow God to work on your heart this week because it is often in offering grace we are renewed.

Digging Deeper 

Philemon is a short book, only one chapter, but there are a few interesting points behind the story.

Compare Paul’s greeting to Philemon to his other letters. There are 13 letters in total. In the majority of them he calls himself an apostle. It is an intentional greeting. But in Philemon it is missing. This gives us some indication of his relationship with Philemon, the recipient of the letter. In this particular case, Paul appears to be writing to a friend and not as an authority.

Paul addresses the letter to Philemon, but also to “the beloved Apphia, Archippus, our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house.” We learn first of all that Philemon is enough of a believer to hold services in his home. He’s committed to the gospel. Most commentators believe Apphia to be a woman and the wife of Philemon. This is important because typically it was the women or wives that handled the slaves. Since Onesimus was a slave in Philemon’s household and probably directed by Apphia, it was important to include her in the letter. Last, Archippus is most likely Philemon’s son.

There is a play on words in verse 11 with the words “unprofitable” and “profitable.” The name Onesimus means “profitable.” Since he was a runaway slave, he clearly has not lived up to his name. We can suppose that not only was he a runaway, but maybe challenging much of what was expected of him as a slave. Now that he became a Christian, Onesimus was helpful or “profitable” to Paul. He was living out his name. William Barclay wrote: “It is significant to note that Paul claims that in Christ the useless person has been made useful.”

Making it Real

Think about the word “profitable.” Synonyms in this context are “advantageous,” “beneficial,” or “rewarding.” Or you might think of the word used by William Barclay, “useful.” How have you been useful to those around you? How, because of your usefulness, have people seen Jesus in you? If you have children, talk about this word related to the story of Onesimus. Have them think of ways that might be “useful” to Jesus this week.

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Merle Poirier writes from Silver Spring, Maryland, where she works as the operation manager for Adventist Review and Adventist World magazines as well as the designer for KidsView, a magazine for 8-12-year-olds. She enjoys spending time with her family including being a grandmother to two active little boys, who greatly enjoy Starting With Jesus, and a granddaughter, who’s delighting everyone with her smiles. She is blessed to have all three living close by, continually bringing joy and delight.