Paul Showed Honor

As an imitator of Christ, the apostle Paul showed honor to others. (1Corinthians 11:1) He said: "Neither have we been seeking glory from men. . . to the contrary, we became gentle in the midst of you, as when a nursing mother cherishes her own children." (1Thessalonians 2:6, 7) A nursing mother cares for her little ones. After Paul became a Christian, he learned to be lowly in mind and showed honor to his fellow Christians by treating them gently. In doing so, he also respected their free will, as was demonstrated by an event that took place when he was a prisoner in Rome.

A runaway slave named Onesimus listened to Paul's teaching. He became a Christian as well as Paul's friend. The slave's owner was Philemon, also a Christian, who lived in Asia Minor. In a letter to Philemon, Paul wrote how useful Consumes was to him, saying: " I would like to hold him back for myself." Yet, Paul returned Onesimus to Philemon, for he wrote: " Without your consent I do not want to do anything, so that your good act may be, not as under compulsion, but of your own free will." Paul did not take advantage of the fact that he was an apostle, but he honored Philemon by not asking to keep Onesimus in Rome. Moreover, Paul exhorted Philemon to honor Onesimus treating him "as more than a slave, as a brother beloved," - Philemon 13-16.

Next time: Showing Honor In Our Day