by Randal Matheny

Ever have one of those self-pity moments when you told yourself that your efforts were ineffective and you yourself were just useless? Maybe you even wanted to pitch it all and run away.

Onesimus must have felt that way. After all, what use can a slave have, other than fulfilling the whims of his master? Even if you're name is Useful. Yes, Onesimus wasn't quite living up to his name.

We gather from the book of Philemon that Onesimus -- let's call him Useful, shall we? -- had possibly stolen from his master and then fled. Somehow, somewhere, he encounters Paul, who preaches to the runaway slave and converts him to Christ.

Useful begins to live up to his name. He serves the apostle, but still has some unfinished business to attend to. His repentance means going back to put things right with his owner. (A lesson not a few folks need today.) So Paul sends him back to Philemon with a letter asking him to welcome Useful back and to debit any losses from his account. He says,

"I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my imprisonment, who formerly was useless to you, but now is useful both to you and to me. I have sent him back to you in person, that is, sending my very heart, whom I wished to keep with me, so that on your behalf he might minister to me in my imprisonment for the gospel" (Phile. 1:10-13, NASU).

Paul finds Useful so, well, useful, so helpful, he wants him back. He is willing to pay for damages. He appeals for reconciliation.

Why Useful ran, we will never know. But he evidently sought out Paul, who was in prison. There, he found a greater aid than he imagined possible. He found salvation. And he discovered how to live up to his name. By serving. What he was unwilling to do in his natural state and position, he did gladly as a disciple of Christ.

When the tide of human emotions leaves you feeling useless and ineffective, remember our brother Useful. In his desperation, he ran in the right direction, found not only an apostle but a Savior, and discovered the joy of service.

May we all wear his name.