Instructions for the Christian Household

 Col. 3:12-17 - Good words!!  (Agape love - binds all this together)

Now practical application to Family Life!!    Col. 3:18-4:1

This = familiar passage  - example:   Marriage and family series
Parallels with Eph. 5 & 6   Includes slaves and masters - predominant in this period!  This written about the same time as the letter to Colossians; delivered by Tychicus

Topic = submission, obedience, leadership, and proper relationships - within the Christian Family!  

Application = simple

wives - submit
husbands - love
children - obey
fathers - nurture
slaves - serve
masters - provide

Simple to comprehend, maybe difficult to practice.

I.  Wives Submit
article  - "no where in the scripture does it tell women to submit"

On one hand = correct; not told to "submit" to men in general!
However, does say "submit to your husband!  - Eph. 5:22-24

meaning is NOT mindless, spineless character - see "Proverbs 31 woman"
Rather = let him take the lead.   (if he won't???  Compare "honor your father and mother")
Example:  Abigail and Nabal - 1 Sam. 25

II.  Husbands Love .... ie  (agape)  

Point = not to love her according to your notion (or culture, society)
Point = Love her AS GOD loves
Examples:  John 3:16, Eph. 5:25, 1 Cor. 13:4-8

*husband also to submit ... to Christ, to his role, position, duty, etc.

III.  Children Obey - "for this pleases the Lord"
is important enough to be one of the 10 Commandments - Deut. 5:16 with Eph. 6:1-3  (note Deut. 21:18-21) - written to nation as a whole, not necessarily individually

IV.  Fathers Nurture
do not .... embitter, exasperate, provoke, irritate .... to the point of bitterness, discontentment, anger, despondency, rebellion

(on) Parents ... don't exercise your authority so rigidly that works against what you're trying to accomplish
Example:  preachers kids

V.  Slaves Serve - more on slavery in Philemon (1 Cor. 7:21)
for us = Employees, workmen ..

(1) Serve (work) well...
(2) ... out of reverence for the Lord ... (if your boss is a jerk doesn't justify you being a jerk.)
(3) ... as if working for Him!

AND ... you will  be recompensed, rewarded - Eph. 6:7-8

VI.  Masters Provide - for us = employers - Col. 3:25 with Col. 4:1  Eph. 6:9 - at the BEMA All will be rightly judged!!

Note.... how Eph. passage begins - Eph. 5:21  (submit to one another)

Note... how timeless and universal is this application!  Because... we (fallen humans) tend toward ..

(1)  self - interests  (what we want)

AND

(2) Rebellion against anything that hinders that pursuit.
Illustrations:  (1)  Adam and Eve & the garden and the forbidden fruit
                    (2)  The church nursery
                    (3)  The current presidential election

So... to all the household , Paul says.... Col. 4:2

be prayerful - you'll need the Lord's assistance to fulfill your role!

be watchful - selfishness and rebellion come in Many Disguises  (and they sneak up on you!!!)

be thankful - for what you have what He's done (and (doing) for His Word, instruction, Holy Spirit, Church

AND ... for your Christian home!!!