BE SUBMISSIVE
O . S . Hawkins
A submissive spirit and attitude are indispensable to all worthwhile relationships . Paul continued his demonstration of the importance of building win-win relationships by informing Philemon that his appeal was on the basis of love : “ Yet for love ’ s sake I rather appeal to you — being such a one as Paul , the aged , and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ ” ( Philemon v . 9 ). Love always seeks the other ’ s highest good . Love is always equated with action in the Bible . While Paul could have exerted his apostolic authority or appealed on the basis of his elder statesmanship , directing Philemon in the process , he was sensitive and submissive enough to choose the path of love . Seeing the end from the beginning , he was wise enough to know that lasting relationships are never built on competition — the win-lose approach — but on the basis of love , resulting in a place where everyone involved can claim victory .
Writing in Greek , Paul chose a strong word that we translate into the English word appeal . Appearing more than a hundred times in the New Testament , it is often translated as “ plead ,” “ strongly urge ,” or “ encourage .” Paul was not
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