Profitable “to You and to Me” - All The LORD is near Daily Devotionals for 2026

I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains, who once was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you and to me.
Philemon 10-11

Profitable "to You and to Me"
These lovely words express Paul's depth of feeling for Onesimus, and his joy at being able to lead him to Christ while in prison.

So far so good, but there was a fly in the ointment. It turned out that Onesimus was the runaway slave of Philemon, a brother in the Lord that Paul held very dear (vv. 1, 6-7, 20). Not only that, Onesimus may have robbed him before he ran off (v. 18).

What was Paul to do? Should he hang on to Onesimus, now a "faithful and beloved brother" (Col. 4:9), and expect Philemon to accept it, or send him back to his master to put things right? Paul's answer to this is to follow his own Master's example by sacrificing his own interests—the help and companionship of Onesimus (v. 13)—to God's will and the blessing of others.

Finding Onesimus on his doorstep with Paul's letter in his hand would be living proof to Philemon that God had changed him and that he should receive him, not as a slave but as "a beloved brother" (v. 16). It would also demonstrate Paul's confidence that Philemon would do this, not by constraint but willingly (v. 14).

Paul's words "profitable to you and to me" play on Onesimus's name, which means "profitable," and the "you and me" aspect of Christianity. Onesimus would become another link in the chain that bound Paul and Philemon, not a reason to snap it: "If then you count me as a partner, receive him as you would me" (v. 17). And after all, Philemon and Onesimus were not so different: both had been saved through Paul (v. 19) and both had become a blessing to others. Now it was Philemon's turn to act in faith and love (v. 5) and refresh Paul's heart by receiving Onesimus back (vv. 12, 20). Grace is both delicate and powerful.

Simon Attwood