Colossians 3:22-4:1
GET THIS: A life properly ordered submits itself to Jesus in everything. And in doing so brings glory to God, fame to the name of Jesus, and joyful flourishing to the children of God.
How It Looks When Jesus Orders the Home [v22-4:1]
6 Things To Make The Conversation Sweet Instead of Bitter:
1. God values our homes.
2. There is more sameness than difference amoung the children of God regardless of gender, age, or posistion.
3. Absolute freedom and unrestricted autonomy is a myth.
4. Submission is the way. For ALL God’s children. We must take ownership of this reality.
5. The passage we’re considering today has been weaponized for tremendous evils of abuse, pain, control.
6. We must apply this passage within the context of all scripture.
Bondservants & Masters. See Colossians 3:22-4:1
Resource Link The Bible and Slavery by Andrew Judd
Resource Link 10 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT SLAVERY IN THE BIBLE by Sam Storms
Paul wrote this to Bondservants and Masters. That’s how we must read it! But even though there are not slaves and masters in this room… can we still take something away from it? Yes.
(First Takeaway) Submission is the way even when circumstances are not ideal: “Bondservants to masters in everything and masters to God and to His ideas of justice and fairness.”
(Second Takeaway) Our work (whatever it is) is done primarily before an audience of One: Jesus. “Not eye-service as people-pleasers” but instead “with sincerity.”
(Third Takeaway) Integrity (Christlikeness) matters for those in charge and for those who are not. “Sincerity of heart” / “heartily” / “justice” / “fairness”.
Submit to Christ [v23-25]
OUR POSTURE: work in all the things–heartily–in service to the King. God is king of men and king of women. The king of husbands / wives / parents / children / bondservants / masters. King of those in authority and those under authority.
And He is a Good King! When you hear these verses over the past two weeks, do you recoil or do you say, “God your ways are always good, please help me understand!”
Two reminders Paul gives to help with this:
(One) God rewards His children (even if people don’t see their good and difficult toil) Do you believe that, or do you need your flowers now?!
(Two) God will hold the wrongdoer accountable (regardless of position/influence/or power). Do you believe that, or do you need you pound of flesh now?
If you’re not a Christian: See Romans 10:9: Submit your life to the risen Jesus today (like a drowning swimmer submits to the embrace of a lifeguard) by grace through faith! Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved.
If you are a Christian…
1. Submit your life to Jesus afresh and again and again! Just because you’re already a Christian doesn’t mean you don’t still need all the grace and faith that God can give you. Pray: “God give me faith to believe your ways are the best ways and to submit to walking in them!””
2. If applicable: Submit your relationship with-or-as authority to Jesus afresh and again/again (marriage/family also)! Pray: God give me faith to believe that your ways of being in or under authority are the best ways, and help me submit to walking in them.
3. If necessary, own your sins and shortcomings with God, those under your authority and those in authority over you (also your spouse, and your children!) Lead out in repentance. I can’t make any promises about how they’ll respond, but I can promise you how God will respond(See 1st John 1:9).
Take Time To Reflect
(1) Where (be specific) do you need to submit your life to Jesus in faith that His ways are best, and His heart is good?
(2) As a person in authority or under authority, where do you need to trust the goodness of Jesus to bring transformation in those specific relationships? (Be ultra specific with yourself).
(3) Is there anything you need to repent of in your relationship with God or your relationship with others?
GET THIS: A life properly ordered submits itself to Jesus in everything. And in doing so brings glory to God, fame to the name of Jesus, and joyful flourishing to the children of God.