CHRIST IN EVERYDAY LIFEColossians 3:18-4:1
If Jesus came to your house,
If Jesus came to your work
If Jesus came into your everyday life, what would change?
There is a very practical side to Christianity. We can talk about theology. We can use language most people wouldn't understand. We need to understand that God is in the here and now.
He wants to be a part of your everyday life. If we are to exalt Jesus Christ we must begin to do it in our everyday world. The world of home and work. The world in which you and I live.
The Bible gives us practical instructions in Colossians 3:18-25 and Colossians 4:1.
1. CHRIST AT YOUR HOUSE
Paul gives some basic instructions for the Christian home. First he addresses wives, then husbands, and then children.
First, Christian wives verse 18 "Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord." This goes completely against the grain of what is being taught today. The problem is trying to force today's culture upon the Bible.
The Bible places a divine order upon the family unit. It does not say that women are of less value than men to God or society. It simply says that we all have roles to fulfill that have been ordained by God. The husband is not to force submission upon his wife. It is something she chooses to do because of her relationship to Jesus Christ.
Her first duty is to the Lord. If she does not submit to her husband, she ultimately is not being submissive to the Lord. Paul is simply describing the marital relationship as a partnership. Each partner has a role to play. If the husband is fulfilling his part of the relationship -- "love your wives" then the wife will have no trouble being submissive.
The husband's role. Verse 19 "Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them." Ephesians 5:25 "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her." "Love" is the word used to describe God's love for man. We are to love our wives with the same love that God has for us.
Eph. 5:25 says we are to love our wives "just as Christ loved the church". How much did Christ love the church? He gave His life for it.
Dear Ann Landers: "My husband doesn't talk to me. He just sits there night after night, reading the newspaper or looking at T.V. When I ask him a question, he grunts "huh, or Uh'huh." Sometimes he doesn't even grunt uh'huh. All he really needs is a housekeeper and somebody to sleep with him when he feels like it. He can buy both. There are times when I wonder why he got married."
If we are truly following Jesus Christ in our marital relationships our wives won't be asking that question. Because we will be loving them with the love Jesus displayed on the cross. They won't have to ask "do you love me?" Our love for them will be shown to them through our actions.
We are also instructed to "not be harsh with them". In Paul's world writing these kind of instructions for men was unheard of. In both Jewish and pagan ethics husbands were given all the rights and women all the duties. Christian ethics calls us to higher ground. To "not be harsh", "be willing to overlook your wife's faults", "be patient".
Instructions for the children of the household
Colossians 3:20 (NIV) "Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord."
Babies are really great. Someone has described a baby as a digestive apparatus with a loud noise at one end and no responsibility at the other. You and I both know that babies don't remain babies for long. They reach a point where they learn to both obey and disobey. Young people have as their God-given responsibility, a life of obedience to their parents. They will either choose to obey or not to obey.
It isn't always easy to obey your parents. Sometimes what they say seems foolish.
Mark Twain from many years ago; "When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years."
There will come a time in your life when you realize that your parents knew a lot more than you give them credit for now. To be obedient to your parents doesn't mean that you have to understand all their rules. Not even agree with them. It means that you do what they say and don't do what they say not to because you respect them. You are obedient to their wishes because, as Paul says, "it pleases the Lord" (vs.20). If you are to exalt Christ in your everyday life you will be obedient to your parents.
The last area of Christ at your house concerns how parents are to treat their children Verse 21 "Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged."
The word translated "embitter" has the idea of "belittling" your children. Paul says if we do that to our kids "they will become discouraged". The child lacks the equipment and experience necessary to form an accurate picture of himself. His only guide is to react to others.
If I tell my child that he/she is a failure and will never amount to anything, most likely that prophecy will come true. I need to tell my child that he/she is a child of God.
There are no limits upon the contribution they can make to God and society I have planted a seed in their lives that will cause them to grow to be the kind of people God wants them to be. What kind of person do I want my children to be? If I want them to be productive members of society I will spend my time with them it lifting them up in the Lord.
2. CHRIST AT YOUR WORK
Colossians 3:22-25, Colossians 4:1
This is talking about slaves and masters, but there is much here that can be applied to our contemporary employee / employer relationships. First, if you are an employee: Be obedient to your boss, work with all your heart (vs.23).
Do these things for one basic reason: because you are a Christian. Your faith will show through your life by what kind of an employee you are. vs.22 says do your work with "reverence for the Lord".
vs.23 says that no matter what kind of work you're doing you're "working for the Lord." vs.24 says that through your service you are in reality "serving the Lord".
The Christian should be the model employee. He/she should show up at work on time. The Christian employee will take the task at hand and do his or her best because they are doing their work for the Lord. Your work habits you are showing your dedication to the Lord. If we consistently show up at work late, do shoddy work, and have a bad attitude we'll be a terrible witness.
And on top of all that Paul says that if we work as if we're working for the Lord we'll receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward" (vs.24).
Instruction for the Christian employer (4:1)
Vs. 22 points out that the "masters" were "earthly masters". 4:1 The employer also has a "Master in heaven." I believe the point is very clear: Here on this earth you might be the boss, but remember you have someone that you are accountable to. Treat your employees in the same way you want to be treated by God. Provide them with what is right and fair. Pay fair wages. Honor any promises you make. Treat them with respect. You show your faith by the way you treat your employees.
Let's take Christ with us to work. Take a moment to notice how Christ is an integral part of our everyday lives. Everything we do, whether at home or at work or at play, is done because of our relationship to Jesus Christ.
Let's exalt Him in our everyday life.