Leaders who serve will serve as good leaders.

I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love. Philemon 9

In his book Spiritual Leadership, J. Oswald Sanders explores the qualities and the importance of tact and diplomacy. “Combining these two words,” Sanders says, “the idea emerges of skill in reconciling opposing viewpoints without giving offense and without compromising principle.”

During Paul’s imprisonment in Rome, he became the spiritual mentor and close friend of a runaway slave named Onesimus, whose owner was Philemon. When Paul wrote to Philemon, a leader of the church in Colossae, asking him to receive Onesimus as a brother in Christ, he exemplified tact and diplomacy. “Although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love. . . . [Onesimus] is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord”  (Philem. 8–9, 16).

Paul, a respected leader of the early church, often gave clear commands to the followers of Jesus. In this case, though, he appealed to Philemon on the basis of equality, friendship, and love. “I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do would not seem forced but would be voluntary” (v. 14).

In all our relationships, may we seek to preserve harmony and principle in the spirit of love.

Father in heaven, in all our relationships, give us grace and wisdom to be wise leaders, parents, and friends.

好的领袖能谦卑服事。

宁可凭着爱心求你。-腓利门书9节

基督教作家孙德生在他的著作《属灵领袖》一书中，探讨属灵领袖的特质，以及机智和手腕的重要性。孙德生认为，运用机智和手腕的意思是：在不得罪人并坚持原则的情况下，化解冲突的技巧。

保罗在罗马监禁的时期，他成为逃亡奴隶阿尼西谋的属灵导师及密友。阿尼西谋的主人是歌罗西教会的领袖腓利门。保罗写信给腓利门，请他接纳阿尼西谋如同基督里的弟兄。在信中，他展现了机智与手腕。保罗说：“我虽然靠着基督能放胆吩咐你合宜的事……宁可凭着爱心求你……[阿尼西谋]不再是奴仆，乃是高过奴仆，是亲爱的兄弟。在我实在是如此，何况在你呢！”（腓利门书8-9、16节）

在初代教会时期，保罗是一位相当受人尊重的领袖，他常常给基督的跟随者清楚的指示。然而，在阿尼西谋这件事上，保罗却以谦和、友善的语气，凭着爱心请求腓利门。保罗说：“我希望一切都是出于你甘心乐意，而不是勉强。没有你的同意，我什么都不愿意做。”（14节，现中修订版）

让我们靠着上帝的慈爱，尽力维持人际关系的和谐，又能坚守原则。

亲爱的天父，在我们的人际关系中，
求祢赐给我们恩典与智慧，
让我们成为有智慧的领袖、父母及朋友。

Philemon 8-18New International Version (NIV)

Paul’s Plea for Onesimus

8 Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, 9 yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus— 10 that I appeal to you for my son Onesimus,[a] who became my son while I was in chains. 11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.

12 I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. 13 I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel. 14 But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do would not seem forcedbut would be voluntary. 15 Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever— 16 no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord.

17 So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. 18 If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me.

整理：于姊妹