Put That On My Account

 

Philemon 1:10-20(NKJV)

10I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains, 

11who once was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you and to me.

12I am sending him £back. You therefore receive him, that is, my own heart, 

13whom I wished to keep with me, that on your behalf he might minister to me in my chains for the gospel. 

14But without your consent I wanted to do nothing, that your good deed might not be by compulsion, as it were, but voluntary.

15For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever, 

16no longer as a slave but more than a slave—a beloved brother, especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

17If then you count me as a partner, receive him as you would me. 

18But if he has wronged you or owes anything, put that on my account. 

19I, Paul, am writing with my own hand. I will repay—not to mention to you that you owe me even your own self besides. 

20Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in the Lord.

For those unfamiliar with the story, Onesimus was a slave who ran away from his mater and found his way to serving Paul while Paul imprisoned.  Onesimus converts to Christianity while serving Paul and then Paul writes this letter to Philemon, the owner of Onesimus, who is also a believer.

Paul seems to be saying "Hey he strayed but he is now a believer.  Please pardon him, if for nor other reason than as a favor to me-"put that on my account."

What a great way we could all be a blessing to others if we took that approach in our daily lives.  Just start looking for simple little was to "put that on my account" for others.  Things like paying for someone else's coffee or feeding their parking meter, or seeing a military member having breakfast and secretly paying for their meal.  There are all sorts of fun ways that we could "put that on my account" and be a blessing to others.  Think about what a smile you could put on someone's face with such a simple gesture. 

As a quick aside, one of the things that I have noticed about some of Paul's writings lately is that he likes to use guilt trips.  He sometimes sounds like the stereo typical "little old Jewish mother".  Like in the passages above.

14But without your consent I wanted to do nothing, that your good deed might not be by compulsion, as it were, but voluntary.

 Paul says he wants their granting of his request to be voluntary, not compulsory but then he goes on and tries to guilt them into it.

19I, Paul, am writing with my own hand. I will repay—not to mention to you that you owe me even your own self besides. 

Pretty funny.  I hope you all have a great Labor Day Weekend!