KEEPING SPIRITUAL ORDER

Passage: Colossians 3:18-4:1

Key verse: 3:20

NIV

Instructions for Christian Households(A)

18 Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands,(B) 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,[a] do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.

22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance(C) from the Lord as a reward.(D) It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 25 Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism.(E)

4 Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair,(F) because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.

Footnotes
  1. Colossians 3:21 Or Parents
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Rules for Christian Households

18 (A)Wives, submit to your husbands, as (B)is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives, and (C)do not be harsh with them. 20 Children, obey your parents (D)in everything, for this pleases the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. 22 Bondservants, obey (E)in everything those who are your earthly masters,[a] not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 23 (F)Whatever you do, work heartily, (G)as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord (H)you will receive the inheritance as your reward. (I)You are serving the Lord Christ. 25 For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.

4 Masters, treat your bondservants[b] justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

Footnotes
  1. Colossians 3:22 Or your masters according to the flesh
  2. Colossians 4:1 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface; likewise for servant in verse 12
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. '...for this pleases the Lord' (18-21)

Any society, including a family, needs spiritual order. Ordinarily, wives should submit to their husbands, and a husband has an obligation before God to love his wife; he must not treat her harshly. Children should obey their parents, and parents should not discourage their children, or embitter them by making unreasonable demands. Wives' submission and children's obedience should be tested by only one standard: Is it pleasing to the Lord?

2. Work with all your heart (3:22-4:1)

Rules for slaves and masters can be applied to employers and employees. When we make up our minds to work for God, we are freed from being 'eye-watchers.' Joseph in the Old Testament understood this principle. He was a slave, but he became Pharaoh's shepherd and father because he worked for God with all his heart. Employers must be just; for God is just. We have a Master in heaven.

Prayer: Lord, help me to keep spiritual order so that I may please you.

One Word: Try to please God