Paul is Timothy’s mentor. Timothy is young and must still learn about and experience a few things in life. That’s why Paul tells stories and experiences from his own life to guide Timothy, and also to spare him a lot of hardship and pain. One of the first things Paul warns him against is man: ¹⁵I’m sure you know by now that everyone in the province of Asia deserted me, even Phygelus and Hermogenes.

In a way Paul is trying to tell him: “That’s life.” The people closest to you will hurt you most. The people you thought you could trust with everything; they will drop you like a rotten tomato.

But fortunately, Paul doesn’t stop here, but also illustrates the opposite: ¹⁶But God bless Onesiphorus and his family! Many’s the time I’ve been refreshed in that house. And he wasn’t embarrassed a bit that I was in jail. There are people who will not drop you.

Certainly, there are people who will not run away. For sure there will be people who will be big enough and not feel embarrassed by you. There are people who are wise enough to know what others are made of and will support others through thick and thin.

The question we need to answer is: What group are you from? Are you a Phyge and a Hermo, or are you an Onesi? Are you one of those that is kind of embarrassed by those who really do everything to proclaim the Gospel, or are you the one who pulls out all the stops to support those who do something for God’s Kingdom?

Yes, we’ve all been on the receiving end of people who dropped us like a hot potato, but we’ve also experienced people who simply do not stop doing good, people who keep on giving, despite whatever. What a beautiful experience it was to meet and experience people who would do anything, yes, really anything for us!

Paul could never forget what Onesiphorus had done. ¹⁷The first thing he did when he got to Rome was look me up. ¹⁸May God on the Last Day treat him as well as he treated me. And then there was all the help he provided in Ephesus—but you know that better than I.

Onesiphorus had such an impact on Paul’s life that he wished extra blessings from God for him.

Remember the question: In which group are you? Are you a Phyge ad Hermo, or are you an Onesi? Do the people you come into contact with also ask God to bless you extra or do they wish you would just pack up and go?

I know we don’t have the guts to go to the people we are in contact with every day and ask them which of these three we are in their lives. We can probably answer the question ourselves. Maybe we should make a concerted effort amidst the little time we have in our lives to plan to be stalwarts in other people’s lives. Maybe we shouldn’t even leave one stone unturned in the process to find others who need our help.

Not because we can, but because of grace alone!

Scripture
2 Tim 1:15-18

Reflection
Phyge, Hermo or Onesi?
Phyge, Hermo or Onesi?
Phyge, Hermo or Onesi?

Prayer
Lord, thank you for the people in my life who cares for me like Onesiphorus. I want to be an Onesiphorus for others. Please open my eyes so that I can see where You want me to make a difference. Amen.