RELATIONSHIP PRINCIPLES FOR PRINCIPAL RELATIONSHIPS

COLOSSIANS 3:18-4:1

Pastor Rick Jackson

I. PRINCIPLES FOR THE HEAVENLY HOME [V. 18-21]

"The strength of a nation is derived from the integrity of its homes." -Confucius

The Healthy Home is a home with:

1. WILLING SUBMISSION NOT FORCED SUBJECTION [V. 18]

-"submission" here means to rank under, a Sgt. may rank under a Lt. while being an equal or better man, God does all things decently and in order (I Cor. 14:40)

-the husband isn't perfect but God is!

-this willing submission among equals is used to picture Christ willing submitting to the Father (Eph. 5) though they are both equals (Phil. 2)

2. BE LOVING NOT BITTER [V. 19]

-"bitter" means harsh and unkind

-the wife is not perfect but God is!

-the word for love is a form of "agape", the same word used in Jn. 3:16

1 Corinthians 13:4-5 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

3. OBEDIENCE NOT ORNERYNESS [V. 20]

-parents aren't perfect but God is! (Eph. 6:1)

"For the most part children do not create problems; they reveal them." W.W. Wiersbe

-Honor as well as obey in the Lord

4. INSIGHTFUL NOT INCITING [V. 21]

-"pater" translated father here is translated parents in Heb. 11:23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment

-children aren't perfect but God is!

-assumes points -1 thru 3 are in order

-Parents should strive not to chasten in anger

-are their efforts ever good enough for you?

"Parents often change their minds and create problems for their children, sometimes by swinging from extreme permisiveness to extreme legalism." -Wiersbe

-In every church I have pastored there have been parents who punished their children by NOT letting them go to church or some other spiritual activity (the very place they might learn how to better behave). Parents that have done this are hurting themselves in several ways.

"But they disobeyed me." or "They disappointed me." Are you raising them for yourself or for the Lord?

Psalm 127:3 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

Malachi 2:15 And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.

"The spirit of a young child is to be carefully and tenderly developed. One cannot crush the spirit of a child with harshness and lack of understanding, and expect that child to develop into a gracious, Christian lady or gentleman. With caution, a tender twig can be bent and shaped; but hasty, rude bending will warp or brake such tender growth." -Oliver B. Greene

"If Dad is unavailable, he should work on his schedule. If he is inacessible, he should work on his attitude." -James T. Dyet

II. PRINCIPLES FOR THE WISE WORKPLACE [3:22-4:1]

These were originally laid down for a society with slaves and masters. Paul was not approving slavery but giving God's guidelines for a situation that existed. That's what the Bible does. It touches where people live, where the rubber meets the road. But from this we can glean some principles for the workplace in our day. Just be careful not to try to make this walk on all fours in your place of business.

1. EMPLOYEE- BE A GOD PLEASER! (v. 22-25)

"It is a sin to do less than your best!" -Bob Jones Sr.

2. BOSS- BE A GOD PLEASER! (3:25-4:1)

Oliver B. Greene thinks 3:25 in context relates to bosses. Of course the principle applies to everyone!

III. GENERAL PRINCIPLES

We have no power over the hearts of others but we can get right ourselves!

1. GIVE OUR BEST TO THE LORD AT HOME!

2. GIVE OUR BEST TO LORD AT WORK!

3. GIVE OUR BEST TO THE LORD AT ALL TIMES!