Colossians 3:18 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. 20 Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. 21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged. 22 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God; 23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; 24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. 25 But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.
Statistics say that 3 of 4 marriages fail. When it comes to the children, they are at home more than any other place. Parents must train them and do the job they are supposed to do. Children need to be taught at home. Deuteronomy tells us a couple of times about this saying they should tell their children continually about the ways of the Lord. If parents spent as much time teaching their children to excel spiritually as they do in other areas of life, how much better off we’d all be.
First we see the duties of the wife. She is to submit to the husband. Some men are real quick to claim that he is the head of the woman but overlook that Christ is the head of him. Submission doesn’t mean inferiority. It’s a mutual commitment. Men and women work together. Be a Christian wife. Pray for your husband if he’s lost. This goes both ways. Don’t preach at the lost spouse. Live right before him or her. Love them.
Next we see the duties of the husband. He is to love his wife. Paul says in Ephesians that he’s to love her as Christ loved the church–he gave himself for it on the cross. When a husband does his part it is easy for the wife to do hers. The man’s role is to lead the family in the things of God. He is to be faithful to her. We live in a day of role reversals, but God will hold the man and woman responsible for fulfilling their roles.
Next is the duties of the children. Simple. Obey your parents. My dad’s discipline instilled right and wrong in me. I didn’t like the consequences of not obeying. Parents are to guide their children through life like a boat captain would a ship through a difficult harbor. How a child is raised does affect his life, but ultimately we’re all responsible for what we do. I found out that my parents were a lot wiser than I thought.
It’s no coincidence that the contents of verse 17 is before this and verse 23 is after it. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him and And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men. Be the best wife you can be. Be the best husband you can be. Be the best child you can be. God will bless the family when we all do what we should remembering that all we do is done unto the Lord.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 