There is a verse in the often ignored book of Philemon that caught my attention this week. It is verse 7 in that one chapter little book. There Paul wrote to his friend, Philemon, “Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.” How great to be the kind of person that others saw as someone who “refreshed” people’s hearts!
I have known people who were just the opposite. Rather than being refreshing like a cool breeze on a hot day they are like one of those blazing hot days that just saps your strength and makes you feel weary. Encounters with them are endured, not enjoyed or welcomed. I can think of a couple of people I have known who have that rare ability to always bring discouragement to any situation. They always have something negative to say. I typically come away a little depressed from those conversations. I have a feeling Philemon was not anything like that.
I have known people who were just the opposite. Rather than being refreshing like a cool breeze on a hot day they are like one of those blazing hot days that just saps your strength and makes you feel weary. Encounters with them are endured, not enjoyed or welcomed. I can think of a couple of people I have known who have that rare ability to always bring discouragement to any situation. They always have something negative to say. I typically come away a little depressed from those conversations. I have a feeling Philemon was not anything like that.
How can I refresh people? To start answering that question we can ask how Philemon did it. Some scholars say that in a letter of this nature where Paul was requesting a favor from Philemon this comment was a part of the standard and expected form of the day. One began by complimenting the person being asked for the favor. Yet I seriously doubt that Paul was disingenuous here and was just puffing Philemon up with some flattery. I do not believe the Holy Spirit would inspire him to write something untrue. I think Philemon was known for caring for other Christians, for meeting needs and lifting up their hearts with encouragement. He had done those kinds of things for Paul himself.
Perhaps the best way to think about how we can “refresh” the hearts of others is to ask how others have encouraged us. One way people have encouraged my heart is by just caring what happens in my life and listening to me. I have been greatly encouraged by people who know that I have some task to do and without even being asked step in to help. I have been mightily strengthened by people who go out of their way to let me know I matter to them and they care about me, perhaps through a note or a phone call. I am continually refreshed by people who give grace to me when my flaws and weaknesses are manifested. I find myself encouraged by people who have hope, who believe there is reason to be joyful and thankful in every situation because God is with them.
Wouldn’t it be great if we all became the kind of people who refreshed others? If we were people who intentionally sought to bring hope and encouragement to other people, if we always made the effort to make them feel loved and to feel like someone in this world cared about them. I would love it if at the end of my days people would remember me as someone who always “refreshed the hearts of the saints.”
Perhaps the best way to think about how we can “refresh” the hearts of others is to ask how others have encouraged us. One way people have encouraged my heart is by just caring what happens in my life and listening to me. I have been greatly encouraged by people who know that I have some task to do and without even being asked step in to help. I have been mightily strengthened by people who go out of their way to let me know I matter to them and they care about me, perhaps through a note or a phone call. I am continually refreshed by people who give grace to me when my flaws and weaknesses are manifested. I find myself encouraged by people who have hope, who believe there is reason to be joyful and thankful in every situation because God is with them.
Wouldn’t it be great if we all became the kind of people who refreshed others? If we were people who intentionally sought to bring hope and encouragement to other people, if we always made the effort to make them feel loved and to feel like someone in this world cared about them. I would love it if at the end of my days people would remember me as someone who always “refreshed the hearts of the saints.”
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