The Christian at home and at work Colossians 3:18 – 4:1

THE CHRISTIAN AT HOME AND AT WORK The letter now takes a new direction From speaking of who Jesus is and what He has done and the implications of our new life in Christ, Paul now addresses practical consequences for important relationships He will briefly mention family and working relationships The Christ who brings meaning and order to the universe will bring order to our relationships

THE CHRISTIAN AT HOME AND AT WORK Wives and husbands (18 – 19) Families and marriages have been affected by the Fall – it is only through Jesus that they can be redeemed Families and relationships can be harmed by sin The order of life in our families should be different from what we find in the world but there will still be difficulties, partly because we are in a more intimate relationship

THE CHRISTIAN AT HOME AND AT WORK Wives and husbands (18 – 19) Paul’s injunction to wives, which he also gives in Ephesians 5:22 Wives are to willingly place themselves under the authority of their husband – not to all men Submission to authority is key to the Christian life in many spheres It should not result in the woman being demeaned Husbands must not insist that a wife does something that God forbids For a Christian wife submission to the Lord will involve submission to her husband (“as is fitting”)

THE CHRISTIAN AT HOME AND AT WORK Wives and husbands (18 – 19) Paul’s injunctions to husbands: love your wives do not be bitter towards them The parallel passage in Ephesians shows us how husbands are to love their wives to an extraordinary degree “Don’t call your wife honey and treat her like vinegar” With authority comes responsibility within the home

THE CHRISTIAN AT HOME AND AT WORK Fathers and children (20 – 21) “Children” is not age specific but applies to all children living under the parental roof Honouring father and mother (Exodus 20:12) We should note that unruly and unmanageable children are a mark of a collapsing culture and a society under judgement (Romans 1:30, 2 Timothy 3:1) Again, children should not be forced to do anything that is sinful

THE CHRISTIAN AT HOME AND AT WORK Fathers and children (20 – 21) Fathers have a role as head of the family to be responsible for their children. They may delegate to their wives but ultimately God will hold fathers responsible How we treat our children is so important Don’t be over critical Encourage, praise the good things they do Be a consistent role model of care, love, gentleness

THE CHRISTIAN AT HOME AND AT WORK Slaves and masters (22 – 4:1) The early church could not change the basis of the whole of the economy Many in the church would be slaves, some would be slave owners (think of Onesimus and Philemon) What they could change was their own relationships within the system Whichever side of the divide we can think of our role in a new way

THE CHRISTIAN AT HOME AND AT WORK Slaves and masters (22 – 4:1) Slaves were to obey their earthly masters They were to sincerely obey at all times, not just pay lip service to obedience For the time they are working they should work as if their master was the Lord – this will change attitudes and actions They have an amazing inheritance stored up for them by God in eternity

THE CHRISTIAN AT HOME AND AT WORK Slaves and masters (22 – 4:1) Masters should treat their slaves justly No exploitation No unfair treatment Earthly masters have a heavenly master to whom they are accountable

THE CHRISTIAN AT HOME AND AT WORK LESSONS FOR TODAY God’s kingdom is a kingdom of order It stands in opposition to the world and current society norms and expectations If we can get our mutual relationships right then we will know God’s blessing in home and work Love and respect should run through all of our relationships