You Owe Me

All too often, we live with debt—great debt. No, it’s not the money we owe on our credit cards, our car loans, or our mortgage. We live with a debt to those who have poured the riches of the Gospel of Jesus Christ into our lives.

Paul appealed to Philemon about this very sort of debt. Philemon’s slave, Onesimus, appears to have run away. Paul had known Onesimus through his repeated visits to Philemon’s house. There, Paul had shared with Philemon the life of Jesus Christ, and Philemon had embraced Jesus as His Savior and Lord. Philemon owed His very life and soul to Paul, his father in the Gospel.

We conjecture, but it appears that Onesimus had fled slavery at Philemon’s house. Somewhere along the way, Onesimus had encountered Paul. Perhaps they were imprisoned together. Paul had the privilege of a serendipitous moment of realization that he knew this slave, Onesimus. Utilizing his influence and relationship, Paul led Onesimus to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, and began to disciple him into a life in Christ.

But a wrong had to be made right. Onesimus had fled his believing owner, Philemon. Philemon still owned Onesimus. Onesimus remained a slave. Restitution must be made.

So Paul wrote a letter to Philemon. The message of his letter? “You owe me.”

Paul appealed to Philemon’s obligation to Paul. Paul addressed Philemon’s obligation to his Lord Jesus, along with his duty to a fellow believer, Onesimus.

“You owe me.”

Sometimes, we are put off by the heavy handedness of the demands of debt, obligation, and duty. Paul did not fear wielding this loving persuasive method. He reminded Philemon of his debt.

To whom are you in debt? To whom do you owe your faith and spiritual life? Parents, church, mentor, or school? Pay your debt. Pay it abundantly. Pay it forward so that others may enjoy the same blessings that you have known.