From Tension to Harmony: Applying Colossians 3 to Modern Relationships

Have you ever wondered what perfect peace and harmony in your closest relationships would look like? Imagine a world where you and your spouse communicate flawlessly, your children always obey, and your work environment is filled with mutual respect and appreciation. While this may seem like an impossible dream, it's actually a glimpse of God's ideal for our relationships.

Before we dive into the specifics, it's crucial to understand a fundamental truth: God's ways are often very different from the world's ways. As I often like to say,

"God's ways have never been popular, but obedience to them always brings blessing."

Jesus tells us in Luke 16:15, "For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God." This means that the values and priorities of our culture are often in direct opposition to God's design.

So, how do we navigate this tension? By submitting every area of our lives to the lordship of Jesus.

In Colossians 3:18-4:1, Paul addresses three pairs of relationships:

1.  Husbands and Wives
2.  Parents and Children
3.  Employers and Employees

Let's break down each of these relationships and see how living under Christ's lordship transforms them.

For wives, Paul instructs: "Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord" (Colossians 3:18). This doesn't mean inferiority or blind obedience. Instead, it's about respectfully following your husband's leadership as an expression of following Jesus.

Husbands, on the other hand, are called to "love your wives and do not be harsh with them" (Colossians 3:19). This love is not just affection, but the self-sacrificing love that Christ demonstrated for the church.

Here's some practical advice for decision-making in marriage:

A loving husband does not make big decisions without talking to his wife. Best case scenario, you make the decision together. But if you don't agree, then the responsibility of the decision falls on the husband, so you should seek God's best and hear from Him.

Children are instructed to "obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord" (Colossians 3:20). This obedience is an expression of the child's faith and this pleases God.

Parents are warned: "... do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged" (Colossians 3:21). This means avoiding doing what might cause children to lose heart, such as overprotection, lack of standards, or setting unrealistic goals.

For employees (or bondservants in the original context), Paul says to work "heartily, as for the Lord and not for men" (Colossians 3:23). This means doing your work with integrity and excellence, regardless of your job title.

Employers are instructed to "treat your bondservants justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven" (Colossians 4:1). This reminds those in authority that they too are accountable to God.

So, how do we live this out practically?

1.  Love Radically: Demonstrate the self-sacrificing love of Christ in all your relationships.
2.  Forgive Freely: Let go of grudges and extend grace to others.
3.  Serve Humbly: Put others' needs before your own.
4.  Treat Others with Dignity: Remember that everyone is made in God's image.

As you bring your relationships under the lordship of Jesus, you can experience a new presence, a new power, a new purpose even in the mundane things of life. This leads to a new kind of peace that's just not possible apart from Jesus.

Remember, close personal relationships are the best testing ground for spiritual growth. As you seek to live under Christ's lordship, ask yourself: "What would it look like if Jesus was the "head of your home", the "unseen guest at every meal", and the "silent listener to every conversation?"

By aligning our relationships with God's design, we can experience the blessing and peace that comes from living life His way.

If you are in the DFW area, and looking for a place to worship Jesus, we would love to meet and worship with you in person.  Simply, click here, to plan your visit today.