All Things Being Equal

Read Philemon 1:1-25

10. Show kindness to my child, Onesimus. . . .
11. [He] hasn’t been of much use to you in the past, but now he is very useful to both of us.
12. I am sending him back to you, and with him comes my own heart.
13. I wanted to keep him here with me while I am in these chains for preaching the Good News, and he would have helped me on your behalf.
14. But I didn’t want to do anything without your consent. I wanted you to help because you were willing, not because you were forced.
15. It seems Onesimus ran away for a little while so that you could have him back forever.
16. He is no longer like a slave to you . . .for he is a beloved brother, especially to me. Now he will mean much more to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord.
17. So if you consider me your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. Philemon 1:10-17

Have you ever had the unfortunate experience of being looked down upon? Perhaps you were at a social occasion dressed a little too casually when you were snubbed. Maybe you ventured into “the wrong part of town” and were assaulted with evil stares or racial slurs. Whatever your experience may have been, one thing is certain—it hurt.

Paul’s letter to Philemon deals with this issue. Here Paul writes: Respect all people. Give everyone your love, and do not regard social class, economic position, career field, or family background as a basis for judging others. Wage earners and board chairpersons are brothers and sisters in the sight of God. As you read, think of any prejudices that you may harbor.

Onesimus was a slave who had run away from his master, Philemon. While Onesimus was on the run, he had become a Christian. What a difference his new identity would make in his relationship with Philemon. Now they were no longer just master and servant but brothers in Christ (Philemon 1:16). Because of Christ, both Onesimus and Philemon had equal status in God’s family, and Paul wrote Philemon to remind him of this.

A Christian’s identity as a member of God’s family overrides all other distinctions. Race doesn’t matter; social status doesn’t matter; ethnic background doesn’t matter; political label doesn’t matter; gender doesn’t matter—all Christians are part of the same family, equals in Christ, equally important, equally loved by God.

Don’t look down on any fellow Christians. In Christ, all stand before God as your equal (see Galatians 3:28). Treat your fellow Christians as the equals they are.