Scripture:
Colossians 3:18-25 ESV
[18] Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. [19] Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. [20] Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. [21] Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. [22] Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. [23] Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, [24] knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. [25] The wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrongdoing, and there is no partiality.
Observation:
The one thing that the church seems to miss at times is discipleship. But it’s all through the Bible. In fact, it’s pretty much every letter Paul wrote was him discipling a church. Here in Colossians, we see him instructing the whole family on their role either as a wife or a husband a child, or even all the way to a bondservant. Starting at the beginning of the scripture chosen for this morning, Paul guides the wife to submit to her husband as is fitting to the LORD. You guys might think this is all about your wife, but it’s not there is a key phrase… that is fitting to the LORD. The very next verse is directed to the husband and confirms the key phrases spoken to the wife. Husband love your wife and do not be harsh with them. I could dive into the application process right here and probably give a good SAOP, but it’s not necessarily where the Holy Spirit has directed me this morning. In the first 4 verses, Paul deals directly with the immediate family. Wives, husbands, children, and fathers. Children are to obey, and their fathers are not to provoke them after dealing with the family unit. Paul then moved on to what you might consider extending family in those days. The bondservant. Now, just so you might have a better idea of why I might call this extended family. I want to give a short explanation as to what a bondservant is. In those days, you could have a slave but once their debt was paid, you had to let them go. However, if that slave made the choice to stay and continue to serve, they then became a bondservant. You would put a ring in their ear, indicating that they were free to go. However, choose to stay. Therefore, becoming more like family. So, the bondservant is directed to obey their earthly masters and not just when their master is watching but from the deepest part of their heart. Not just to be a people pleaser but because it was a position that they had chosen. Paul directed them to do what was required of them as though they were working for the LORD. Ultimately, that’s who they were truly working for. Their master may have been the provider of their immediate needs, but the LORD provided those ways and means to him in order to do so. So the bondservant’s reward honestly came from the heavenly Father. The last verse has a truth to it that can get overlooked if we are not careful. Let’s remember that Paul is talking to a believing household. These are husbands, wives, children, and bondservants who know Jesus Christ as their LORD. So, the final statement is somewhat eye-opening. In verse 25, Paul tells us that the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.
Application:
In my mind, as I went over these verses this morning, I was thinking… the man is the spiritual leader of the home. These verses put that responsibility directly on him. That is why for the most part, they are aimed at what he does and how he treats his wife and children. Now, this is just my opinion, but I believe I can back it up with scripture. If a man is truly chasing after the LORD, it’s going to be easy for all the other stuff to fall into place. His wife will submit to him because she will know his heart is for the LORD. His answers to her will be soft and out of love. This pertains to the way he treats his children and bondservants as well. I’m just going to be honest it has been laid on my heart to build strong men. So, I see this scripture as an opportunity to lead those who may take the time to read it to stand up and lead our families through the love of Christ. An iron fist comes from a dictator. A loving hand comes from a follower of Jesus Christ. Pervolking our family and bondservant to anger only means we are not loving like Jesus. Operating in the spirit will encourage those who GOD has placed around us to follow. My thought is… and I still struggle with this from time to time. If we do everything, we do as though Jesus was sitting right beside us. We would probably be doing things the way HE wants us to. A husband who loves his wife won’t have a problem with her respecting him. A child who obeys their parents won’t be provoked to anger because they will be doing what is expected by Jesus. A bondservant, also known as an employee, won’t have a problem with the boss if he does what is expected, whether the boss is there or not. All this really boils down to are you really chasing after Jesus… because if you are pleasing, HIM will be at the forefront of your mind, and James tells us how to do that when he says be doers of the word, not hearers, only. Right here in Colossians, we have instructions on what a Christian home looks like. Peaceful loving and walking in the fruit of the Spirit. That’s not to say it’s without trouble. But ad the spiritual leader of my home. I can tell you that as I do my part, my wife has no problem doing hers, and I believe my children are following as well. The men I have working for me I believe they respect me and do what is asked of them whether or not I am there. My point is that GOD’S plan and instructions work if we put them into action. The only real question is, are you going to put them into action?
Prayer:
Father, we see how you have clearly laid out a way to live that will bring you the honor and glory you deserve. We know that we are responsible for our part. But if we do our part, you will do yours. You have set forth a plan for us. It’s a good plan, and it can start today if we are willing to seek your face with all our hearts. Help us to lead our homes the way you have laid out. Because that’s when we will truly realize the promises you have given are not only for eternity but also for our lives here on earth as well. We ask it all the time, but I think it gets missed when we do. “Let your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” I believe we miss it because it’s a prayer that is truly just repetitive. We are asking that when we say that prayer. It is said from our hearts, not just our heads. Help us to live all the way in the kingdom. Not just one foot in and one foot out, we want full submission. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus we pray, amen.