Changi Chapel

A debtor to the Greek and the Barbarian – to the wise and the unwise (Rom 1:14)

Paul is revealing a truth that should become the gold standard for any believer. While he could have been comfortable preaching to the cultured and refined Greek, he was also aware of his debt to the "barbarian".

Barbarians can mean anyone who is non-Greek or a foreigner or someone uncouth, uncultured and/or someone not very civilized in their ways.

This is what the Lord Jesus meant when he said "Go ye into all the world" – which includes the Greek, the Barbarian and all those in between! Which is what Paul was talking about.

Do we have a heart for the "barbarians" who exist in our respective ecosystems? Do we take time to love and serve them – and if possible share the gospel to those who are in the fringes of our society? Do we love the marginalized?

Or are we comfortable only with those we are familiar with or those who are aligned to our social status? Paul’s debt to the barbarian shows us how encompassing his life and ministry was – he was keen to engage with those he was comfortable with – and also with those who were unlike him.

Is this true of our lives? Are we selective (and elitist) in our relationships and with those we engage in ministry?

Paul cared for the barbarian!!

Do we?