“Now I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to come to you (but was hindered until now), that I might have some fruit among you also, just as among the other Gentiles. I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise” (Romans 1:13-14).
Much like Paul the Apostle’s standard introductory greeting of “grace and peace,” the phrase “I do not want you to be unaware” is one that occasionally reappears in Paul’s Biblical letters. In addition to what we read here in Romans 1:13, we can find similar references in Paul’s letters to the churches at Corinth and Thessalonica as a method of introducing a new and important subject.
The fact that Paul had often planned to visit Rome without success is one that should bring comfort when our own plans fail to come to fruition. For example, Paul’s experience tells us that it is not wrong to plan for the future. As we’re reminded in the Old Testament book of Proverbs, “Wise people think before they act; fools don’t–and even brag about their foolishness” (Proverbs 13:16 NLT).
Nevertheless, it’s possible to prayerfully establish a desired goal without success. In such instances, it requires faith to continue to trust in God when our plans result in less than we desire. While there may be some comfort in knowing that we share something in common with the great Apostle Paul when our plans fail to materialize, Paul also shows us the way to a proper response when our circumstances do not align with our desires.
The following commentary summarizes a key takeaway from this portion of Scripture…
“Paul does not demand that the Lord open up a way to come to Rome, and he even acknowledges in Romans 1:13 that providence has thus far hindered his journey. This is an excellent example of God-honoring prayer that is content with the will of our Creator but nevertheless keeps on asking, seeking, and knocking when one does not know what God’s will is. Paul wants to see the Romans, and he keeps praying to that end, all the while knowing that the Father may not grant that request.” (1)
Finally, this passage speaks of Paul’s sense of debt to those he encountered. We’ll examine these references to Greeks and barbarians in our next study, but for now, we can say that Paul felt an obligation to invest his God-given gifts in the lives of others. We can say the same regarding the talents, skills, blessings, and opportunities God has entrusted to us as well (see Matthew 25:14-30).
Image Attribution: Planning by Nick Youngson CC BY-SA 3.0 Alpha Stock Images
(1) Paul’s intent to visit Rome Ligonier Ministries. Published January 6, 2014. https://learn.ligonier.org/devotionals/pauls-intent-visit-rome