Christ in Colossians | Life As For The Lord – Colossians 3:18-4:1
Christ rules on the throne of haven as preeminent, the first before all things. For the Christian, we do not coronate Christ as King but merely catch up to and submit to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. One of the joys of theology and studying God comes from the sheer practicality. Paul does not stop at the head knowledge or philosophical but gives the practical application. When Christ is preeminent, the effects are felt all throughout every aspect of the believer’s life. Colossians 3:18 start Paul’s clear application that, when Christ defines our life, every aspect of our life comes under the sovereignty of God. Submitting to God’s sovereignty will always be uncomfortable and take faith as it goes against our fleshly nature. Yet, however difficulty Paul’s instructions may be, we should take them to heart, not to point the finger at others, but to first look at how we can apply God’s word. God, being before all things, established creation according to a His perfect will and design.
“Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. 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. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality. Masters, treat your bondservants justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.”
Colossians 3:18-4:1, ESV
Mutual Submission According To Our Design
This passage, in our current day and age, easily is a powder keg for gender relations. Proper biblically interpretation involves understanding the text in the context it was written. People see passages like this and quickly jump to the conclusion that the Bible is inherently sexist. Yet, it is BECAUSE of passages like these that we should conclude that scripture is not sexist. During the time Paul wrote, children, women, and slaves were considered to be worth less than their male counterparts. Thus, the thrust of the passage condemns the patriarchical abuse of power and sets the world in order according to divine design. It is not wrong for the man to lead but it simply sinful to subjugate the wife without love. It is not wrong to discipline children, but it sinful to provoke your children and reject their upbringing in the Lord. Finally, a master should care for those under their care as an honest and caring business owners, but slavery, as understood by America’s abomination and historical blight isn’t wrong and abhorrent.
The idea Paul conveys through this passage consists that when Christ reigns over every aspect of our life and comes first, we should be willing to represent Jesus Christ to those around us. Do not read through this passage in order to point the finger at others and how they should be treating you, but instead read through to challenge yourself in your dealings with others. Christ did not hold His status over us in condemnation but became man, willing to even die for our sake at His expense. This should be the defining quality of our dealings with others. As the Holy Spirit operates in us and through us, we should be willing to care for those in our path, whether spouses, the next generation, or those in our employment. When the body of Christ becomes willing to sacrifice the self for the sake of others, what results is an outpouring of love and generosity going in all directions.
As For The Lord
Ultimately, though, we do not work in order to be seen by men. Our audience should not be mankind nor we should we ultimately seek the approval of man. At our core, our fleshly nature, shaped by the effects of our sin, crave things that destroy our eternal hope for temporary pleasure. Nor are we unique in our desire to have our egos stroked and our fleshly appetite appeased. When our goal becomes to chase after the opinion of man, we will ultimately sacrifice our design and heavenly morality to become popular with others. We will be willing to wrong one another for temporary gain. Paul clearly states that when we ignore the purpose and design of God to wrong one another, whether it be our husband, wives, children, bosses, or workers, we will ultimately inherit what we have sought after in our life. We will reap what we sow.
Paul’s discussion of inheritance and rules for the Christian household reveal a generational nature of our expressed faith. Our actions, even if they seem as if they have no affect on others, will have effects that echo throughout eternity. Therefore, we do not seek the approval of men but of God. Our actions are not just extensions of our faith but acts of worship to our Lord. We care for our husbands or wives as Christ poured his love and affection out on the church, in according with our design. We act intentionally with our children and deal with our parents with grace. We treat our bosses with the honor they are due and honor our employees we provide for as if they are people not mere commodities. When Jesus Christ becomes the standard with which we base our decision, the result will be a life transformed by the grace of God and an eternal inheritance resting in the presence of God, forever.
