Philemon 1:20

Twice in this letter Paul plays on the name Onesimus, which means "profitable." But Onesimus had not lived up to his name. He ran away from his master Philemon and perhaps even stole something. Onesimus had gone through a complete change. The apostle points to this in verse 11, with the words "unprofitable" and "profitable" (Greek: achrestos – euchrestos). In verse 20 he speaks to Philemon directly when he says "I would have profit of you" (Darby) (Greek: onaimen).

This appeal closes with touching words: "Yes, brother, let me have profit of you in the Lord: refresh my heart in Christ." He began with "brother" in verse 7, and he says it again here in verse 20. It was not wasted on Philemon. Paul was looking for genuine love, not for a favour granted from above. The gain he longed for was Philemon's even more than his own, without telling him so. Philemon faced a present need and all the past provocation. Grace on his part would be the most soothing refreshment to the wounds and sufferings of the aged apostle. Selfishness was excluded. All he sought was in the Lord — in Christ.

That word "fellowship" — what a blessed word it is! All that we share with one another, we share as being one with Him. The apostle beautifully brings Philemon's soul into realising this fellowship with himself: "For we have great joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother." The apostle's soul delighted in this relationship, which tied him to Timothy, and Timothy and himself to Philemon. It stood on far higher ground than any natural relationship. They were brothers to one another only because each of them was the brother of Jesus.

The Spirit of God does not set up a mere code of human rights. Christianity is not a system of earthly righteousness. It is the unfolding of the grace of Christ, and of heavenly hopes. It brings souls to God, who by that cross delivers them from all wrongs. It lifts them above these rights, not in pride of heart, but bowed down by the rich mercy of the Lord. Nothing upholds the rights of others so well; but at the same time it is no question of clinging to our own.

The servant dare not undertake more than the Lord has done. He knew the ways of his Lord, and that is why he used language like this. If a brother owes us anything, let us not demand it… No one loses by giving something up for the Lord's sake. We owe ourselves to Him, and all that we have. Yet He is so gracious that He undertakes to repay any loss we put up with for His name's sake. What a double debt of grace Philemon was placed under! A debtor to the grace of the Lord — a debtor to the grace of the servant… He might claim everything, since "we are not our own." But it is His joy to put us in a place of standing in grace and doing what pleases Him. Paul had now put Philemon on his standing in grace, and then he adds his appeal. Paul wanted his own inmost affections refreshed, just as Philemon's faith and love had refreshed the hearts of the saints.

Paul wanted Philemon to give him joy, to refresh his heart in the Lord (v. 20). If it so refreshed His servant to look at this display of divine grace, how much more the Lord! He loves to see Himself reproduced in practice in His own people who are in the world.