March 9
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INSTRUCTION FOR THE FAMILY
18 Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives and do not become bitter against them. 20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not antagonize your children, so that they will not become discouraged. – Colossians 3:18-21
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This letter of Paul to the Colossians gives clear-cut guidelines for the family of believers. In verse 18, Paul addresses the wives to submit to their husbands as they would submit to the Lord. Why is it so important that the wives surrender to their husbands? As Paul wrote the believers in Ephesus which was written in 49AD which was written ahead of this letter to the Colossians, he mentions that the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ is the head of the church (Ephesians 5:23). Division and disunity in the marriage may occur as a result of the wrong order in the relationship as God intended it to be. Since the man is the head and not the wife. After the fall of Adam and Eve, one of the consequences of the sin on Eve’s part is that she will want to take control of her husband stated in Genesis 3. Paul reiterates the importance of the wife’s submission to the husband to ensure peace and harmony in the marriage.
In verse 19, the husbands are commanded to love their wives and ensure that they do not become bitter against them. The same guidelines were given to the Ephesians. Paul explains in-depth why. Ephesians 5:25-33 says that husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself for we are members of his body. “For this reason, a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” In that context, husbands will avoid letting bitterness creep into their marriage.
Once again, Paul instructs the children of Colossian believers as he did the Ephesians: to follow what their parents says in everything. This is important so they can learn surrender and submission to authority. Honoring your parents is the first commandment with a promise as he explains to the Ephesians. It leads to a life that is long and enjoyable. Then the fathers specifically got a very important instruction in verse 21. They must not provoke their children so that they will not be discouraged. Ephesians 6:4 says that children can be provoked to anger by the way they are treated. Fathers are instructed to bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.
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REFLECTION
• Why do members of the family need to follow God’s guidelines?