RPG Adults
TRUE YOKEFELLOW
SATURDAY, JUNE 10
Philippians 4:1-3
Galatians 6:1-10
“…my fellowlabourers,
whose names are
in the book of life.”
TRUE YOKEFELLOW
Knowing how delicate and tricky church conflicts can be, Paul called upon others in the church to lend a hand to help diffuse the situation.
He called upon a certain “true yokefellow” to be the primary person to help sort out the matter. Little is known about him. He was perhaps a fellow servant of Paul and was known by the title of “true yokefellow.” Literally, the term describes someone who bears the same burden together with you, like two animals yoked together to plough a field. He was one whom Paul regarded as a comrade, a partner, a fellow servant of the Lord. Paul requested that he help these women out, to see to it that they would be united in the bonds of Christ once again.
He also asked Clement and other fellow labourers in the church to lend a hand to ensure the unity of the church. This is how conflict is resolved – where everyone works together without any ulterior motive, to make sure that peace and harmony are wrought.
Paul told them all to band together, to unite one with another, for after all, they were all sincerely serving the same Lord. In fact, Paul knew these two women, having served together with them in the past. He pleaded with them to put aside their personal squabbles and differences and work together!
One further point he mentioned that must tie all of us together is the fact that they were all saved, with all their names written in the Book of Life. All Christians have the same destination and hope, i.e. we are headed to heaven. Seeing then that we shall be together forever in eternity, can we not get along on earth? As we are looking forward to the same hope of eternal life, our desires and motivations here on earth should align as well. In a sense, all Christians ought to be true yokefellows one with another. We are all bound together in the service of the same Lord. We ought to be able to come alongside one another to bear one another’s burdens and be united in the Lord.
THOUGHT: What happens if one yokefellow does not pull his weight?
PRAYER: Father, may I have the grace to put aside any petty differences that I have with others and be of one mind in the Lord.