Relationships

DEVOTION

THE LETTER TO THE COLOSSIANS

RELATIONSHIPS

Col 3:18-21

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 embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.

NIV

Could there have been that much disharmony in the families that Paul needed to make these personal type comments as to how a family should function as to please the Lord? This has to be one of the sections of scripture that has been either misunderstood, or just plainly ignored. Of course, there are cultures in the world where wives are compelled to submit to their husbands under penalty of severe punishment for disobedience. There has been some attempt to enforce this concept in our culture or country in the past and perhaps even to some extent today. However, with the various equal rights movements and women’s liberation that has permeated our society, it is doubtful many wives today feel the need to submit to their husbands. There may always be exceptions, of course, especially among Christian women who read this with understanding and the wisdom of the Spirit. It goes the same with husbands when it comes to loving our wives, and not being harsh with them. This harshness is that brutal, “I am the king of my castle” ideology which demands his wife to serve his every need. Although it is true Eve was created from Adam for the purpose of being his helpmate, she was not to be his servant, but an equal partner in life, however, they had different roles. After the fall, as we call it, God told Adam, not Eve, that he would have to work the ground by the sweat of his brow all the days of his life for their sustenance, because he listened to his wife. Eve, on the other hand, was told she would desire her husband, and be ruled by him, and would have pain in childbirth. God goes into more details than that, but those are the main ideas. This relationship between husbands and wives also serves as the relationship between Christ and his church. Jesus is the bridegroom and the church is the bride of Christ. We could spend a book just on that concept alone, but we also need to deal with this earthy family. Yet, the love that Christ has for his church, is the type of love a husband should have for his family, his wife and children. Jesus did not come to be served, but to serve. Then it would make perfect sense us husbands would be the ones who serve our families. We should be willing to do anything for their wellbeing. The authority is ours only because God holds us accountable for our family. Christ has absolute authority yet he came to serve, not to lord his authority over us. He suffered and died on the cross as the ultimate act of love for his family. The family, husband, wife and, children are supposed to be one unit, living and loving together as they live in Christ. Of course, children should be obedient to their parents and again we notice it is the husband, father who is commanded not to embitter them. Once again, in many homes today it would seem the role of rearing children has fallen onto to mother, however, it is the father who seems to have been challenged not to embitter them, so than it would also seem the father has just as much, if not more, responsibility in rearing the children. What it all boils down to is being who God intended us to be in our family relationships as well as in our relationship with Jesus.