Today’s passage: Colossians 3:18-4:1
Helpful thoughts:
- The list of characteristics Christians “put on” as we grow in Christ continues in today’s passage.
- The typical practice of the Roman culture was for men to be domineering over their wives and for the wives to simply obey. The Bible teaches submission, but not under a domineering hateful husband. Wives are not slaves. We are all made in the image of God. Husbands, love your wives.
- The Apostle Paul did not commend slavery, but he did give instruction to Christians in how to conduct themselves within that present social system. When Christians operated with dignity and respect within the system, it would have served to upend the system.
- Because this is true, what we read in this passage can be just as applicable to modern day employer-employee relationships.
Questions to consider:
- When we think of relationships and authority, what is it about those things that causes us to grieve, fear, recoil, etc.? What do we know will eventually happen with (or be done by) the people who are in charge? Why do we know that all in authority will eventually do something wrong? What is their nature?
- Why doesn’t this knowledge of the failure of those in authority completely eliminate the need, or the command, or the rightful place of authority and structure in the world? Why do you think God still instructs us to lead and be led in different relationships?
- When we lead or when we are being led, who are we serving? How does thinking about leading and being led through the grid of love and through the grid of service to the Lord change our thinking and tendency to protect self?