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“But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.”

The verse above comes from a letter the Apostle Paul wrote to his fellow worker, Philemon. It is included with the other letters to the Bishops of the early church and written in a personal style. It has been included by the Holy Spirit in His work of gathering the New Testament and, therefore, is of value to us. In it we can see that, although the Apostle had all authority to make decisions and direct the work of the ministry, he understood the power of choosing to work for the Lord.

The value of freewill choosing was so high in God’s sight that it became the defining, God-like trait that separated mankind from all other parts of the creation. Unfortunately, it is also the aspect of our being that can separate us from God.

No situation we confront can cause a separation from God. Romans 8:35, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?”

No external force can separate us from the love of God. Romans 8:39, “Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

It is only our prideful, human nature that can cause us to think we know better than the Chief Shepherd and His true helpers who are placed in position to feed, shelter and protect us.

Those who choose wisely and humble themselves to look for God’s will for their life’s path can ever be assured that they are in safe hands. John 10:29-30, “My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.”

Just as the trinity God IS ONE (1 John 5:7) so the church is called to willingly work together in unity, not for our own gain but for the welfare of the collective body. This also includes the Ministry as per this letter to Philemon demonstrating that the use of authority should not be required as all should desire to help spontaneously, wherever possible. Philemon 1:16, “Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?”