Every Good Thing We Share

In Philemon 1:6, Paul says, “I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ.”

When Paul writes this to Philemon, he’s not just sending a theological essay. He’s writing a personal letter to a close friend and fellow believer.

Paul is encouraging Philemon not only to embrace the truth of the gospel but to live it out in community. Their “partnership” wasn’t just a casual friendship, it was a mutual commitment to living for Christ, growing in understanding, and making the love of Jesus visible in the way they treated others. In this case, Paul is urging Philemon to welcome back his former servant Onesimus—not as a servant, but as a brother and co-laborer in Christ.

Today, we still need partnerships like this. Following Jesus was never meant to be a solo journey. We grow deeper in our understanding of the gospel when we engage in authentic relationships with others who are walking the same path. Small groups, Bible studies, honest conversations with Christian friends—all of these help us see “every good thing we share” more clearly.

If you want to better understand who Jesus is and what He’s doing in your life, don’t try to figure it out alone. Open your Bible with someone. Ask honest questions. Pray with a friend. You’ll find that partnership in the faith isn’t just helpful. It’s powerful.