The Power of a Humble Leader - Philemon

 Philemon 1:13-14 (ESV)

I would have been glad to keep him with me, in order that he might serve me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel, but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own accord.

Setting aside your authority, position and/or rights is a mark of a great leader.   In the book of Philemon we see, above, Paul doing just that.   In this little letter, Paul is writing to Philemon to tell him that Philemon’s run-a-way slave has run right into Paul (in prison) and Paul has lead him to receive forgiveness of sins.  Paul states that the slave, Onesimus, is now not only Philemon’s slave, but his brother as well.  Slaver in the Greek culture was much different than what we understand in our times.  But, the point Paul is making is that although Onesimus had wronged Philemon (we have no idea what he did to land in prison), Onesimus is not restored with God and therefore should be restored with Philemon.   Paul could have told Philemon to take Onesimus back because Paul is PAUL.  In the early church there really was no one with more power or authority.   Paul had a position over Philemon.  He could have demanded that Philemon take Onesimus back.  But, Paul, instead, does not rely on authority or position but on mutual love for Christ.  That is the power of a Godly leader, no matter the situation we find ourselves in as leaders.  We are to set aside our power and, rather, present love for Christ as the reason we do one thing or another.  That might mean we are used or abused by the those around us.  But, God compels us by the love of Christ to appeal to resolve situations with the power of Christ’s love.   There is nothing more powerful in the world than Christ’s love.