Faithfully Fulfilling Your Role!

The story is told of an eleventh-century German king, King Henry III,who, having grown tired of court life and the pressures of being a monarch, applied to a monastery to be accepted for a life of contemplation. The religious superior of the monastery, Prior Richard, is reported to have said, “Your Majesty, do you understand that the pledge here is one of obedience? That will be hard because you have been a king.”

Henry replied, “I understand. The rest of my life I will be obedient to you, as Christ leads you.”

“Then I will tell you what to do,” said Prior Richard. “Go back to your throne and serve faithfully in the place where God has placed you.”

When King Henry III died, a statement was written: “The King learned to rule by being obedient.”

Like King Henry, we too often tire of our role and responsibility. Like King Henry, we too need to be reminded that God has placed each of us in a particular place to be faithful there. Be it as a plumber, accountant, mother, father, or whatever, God expects us to be faithful where he has placed us.

Whatever You Do, Do It Faithfully For the Lord!

Conduct Your Family Life For God’s Glory!

Last week we dealt with the premise of and pleaded for the necessity of believers to act like believers

…as those who have been raised to new life it is time for us to start behaving as those who have been transformed by the power of Christ...

we lay aside the continual corruption of the old man with all its sinful practices, attitudes and desires

we be renewed in our minds and put on the new man…that which stands in stark contrast to the old...

Now Paul is going to carry that out even further by giving instructions to believers of how that looks in your everyday relationships…your marriage, your family, your job…

Paul makes it very clear his readers understood the purpose of this section…

Colossians 3:23 NASB95

Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men,

Please notice how many times the Lord recurs in this section…circle it in your Bible, highlight it, whatever you need to do to call attention to it...

It appears seven times in nine verses… all the versions translate it as Master…

Wives, husbands, children, parents, worker or boss we all are to be mindful of and faithful to the Lord…regardless of the role you presently hold…you are to conduct yourself in a manner that honors Christ!

Jesus is not just Lord of your Church life, He is Lord of your Everyday life!

Let’s read making not of every time the Lord is mentioned...

In the time we have remaining, let’s examine how the Lord expects you to faithfully fulfill your role!

Three specific relational avenues that ought to be impacted by the sufficiency of Christ!

Faithfully Fulfill Your Role in Your Marriage (18-19).

Colossians 3:18 NASB95

Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

Wives are to submit themselves to their husband’s leadership.

Submission is such a taboo concept in our culture today…it is not a popular thing…submission gets a bad rap because people do not understand biblical submission...

Jesus submitted himself

Matthew 26:39 NASB95

And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.”

1 Corinthians 15:28 NASB95

When all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, so that God may be all in all.

1 cor 15

We are all called to be submissive to one another...

Submission does not mean inferiority.

Ephesians 5:21 NASB95

and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.

Every human we submit to is imperfect so you can’t go around looking for the perfect person to submit to…Jesus is the only person we are to submit to that has not been stained by sin!

God knows that!

Why does God give us submission?

It is a tool that God uses to get work done. It doesn’t always mean that the person in authority is better, smarter, etc.

a. It is a tool that God uses to get work done. It doesn’t always mean that the person in authority is better, smarter, etc.

It just means that God has placed that person in charge

It is also a recognition that we all need to submit to God, and these various roles give us an earthly picture of our heavenly relationship to the Lord.

As we walk through this text, it is important to point out, that if you are a believer in Christ, you are the bride of Christ, you are the child of Christ, and you are the slave/servant of Christ.

2) It is important to point out, that if you are a believer in Christ, you are the bride of Christ, you are the child of Christ, and you are the slave/servant of Christ.

It is also very important to note here that this is written in the middle voice…meaning that it is not forced submission…it is the wife acting upon herself to be submissive…

Submission does not mean inferiority.

Submission is not absolute.

Submission is not mindless obedience

Submission is the voluntary placing of yourself in proper rank!

It is very important to note here that this is written in the middle voice…meaning that it is not forced submission…it is the wife acting upon herself to be submissive…

Men…this is the wife’s command...this is not directed at you…God doesn’t say “husbands make sure your wife submits”...It is a command for wives to put on as they want to please God.

The point is wives can honor God in everything they do, and one of the ways they do that is through a willing choice to submit to their husband’s leadership.

Ephesians 5:21 NASB95

and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.

When wives choose to be submissive they show Christ-like humility.

One of the best passages on a wife’s submission is , and it is directly linked to Christ’s example of How he entrusted Himself to the Father’s plan.

1 Peter 3:1 NASB95

In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives,

Please notice the caveat regarding submission...As is fitting to the Lord... a wife who bears the name of Christ is to submit to her husband as she would submit to Jesus as her Lord...

Husbands we will do with you in a moment, but for now, hear this, The believing husband must NEVER DEMAND his wife to be submissive…it is something she must do of her own will.

d. This is fitting to the Lord.

This does not mean your husband has absolute authority…only God does…you are not obligated to follow your husband’s leadership if it conflicts with Scriptural commands…if you know what he asks violates God’s word you have the right and the duty to disobey...

Acts 5:29 NASB95

But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.

So a godly wife who is in Christ will of her own volition submit herself to her husband with that understanding.

This is Christ-like...so a godly wife who is in Christ will of her own volition submit herself to her husband.

1) In other words, this is in line with a wife who bears the name of Christ. This is Christ-like, this is fits like star shaped kids toy fits in the star shaped lid cutout… so a godly wife who is in Christ will of her own volition submit herself to her husband. That is what fits, what the role is supposed to look like.

Husbands we will do with you in a moment, but for now, hear this, The believing husband must NEVER DEMAND his wife to be submissive…it is something she must do of her own will.

The wife is called to do this herself as she lives out her role.

f. Notice The husband is never told to make the wife submit.

1) The wife is called to do this herself as she lives our her role.

Submission is when you willingly place yourself under the leadership structure the Lord has provided, particularly when you would do something differently.

Some say, yeah I will submit, if I agree…that is not submission, that is called agreement. When everyone agrees there is no problem there is no need for submission. That is also not always what happens.

ii. Some say, yeah I will submit, if I agree…that is not submission, that is called agreement. When everyone agrees there is no problem there is no need for submission. That is also not always what happens. Submission is when you willing place yourself under the leadership structure the Lord has provided, particularly when you would do something differently.

Submission is when you willingly place yourself under the leadership structure the Lord has provided, particularly when you would do something differently.

Husbands are to love their wife without becoming bitter towards them.

Colossians 3:19 NASB95

Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them.

Buckle up here husbands...because God’s word hits us right in the face...

Husbands are called to love their wives...

Agape is not used anywhere outside the Bible to talk about a love that a man has for his wife.

This is a present imperative meaning you continue to love… “keep on loving”

Agape Love is not simply to have strong feelings of affection for my spouse, although we are to cultivate those in our thinking.

this is a love of choice meaning it is not simply to have strong feelings of affection for my spouse, although we are to cultivate those in our thinking.

More importantly, agape love is a willingness to give up our wants to serve her.

Husbands are commanded to love our wife as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.

Ephesians 5:25 NASB95

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her,

The way you love your bride is to be a reflection of your Lord’s love for you as His bride.

A leader often is viewed as the one who gives the instructions, and everyone else sacrifices to carry those instructions out, but Paul goes to a whole other level. Husbands loving their wife’s

The way you love your wife is to be a reflection of your Lord’s love for you as His bride.

That is something that God brings to the husbands role as that is what Christ did for us, and even though we are men, we are part of the Bride of Christ, and so we are to reflect His love for us, to our bride.

Not simply because it helps the family, the community and the state be strong, but because it honors the Lord.

More importantly, love is a willingness to give up our wants to serve her.

Ephesians 5:25 NASB95

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her,

This is a call for us to sacrifice and die for them.

7) So wife’s are called to submit and follow…husbands are called to sacrifice and die.

Why does God need to instruct men to love their wives so much?

Love does not come naturally from us and we need to be reminded to do it…wives don’t feel bad if you have to keep reminding us of things…God does it too!

Having affection for someone we find attractive comes naturally, loving and serving someone else as you sacrifice your desires does not.

…love without getting bitter

This idea of being bitter toward your wife, is like water being bitter or poisoned and a person drinks it and it is harmful to them.

You can’t call them honey and then act like sewer water…in other words we are to do our best to not treat them with harshness or resentment (regardless of whether or not they willingly submit)

So this is not easy to lead and be responsible for someone else, and regularly give up what you want for someone else...And so there is a Natural tendency to grow bitter,

Why does God lead Paul to say that?

d. And so there is a Natural tendency to grow bitter,

Leading and being responsible for someone else, and regularly giving up what you want for someone else plays into our natural selfishness and tendency to grow bitter...

Perhaps wife doesn’t treat husband well as he sacrifices...

1) Perhaps wife doesn’t treat husband well as he sacrifices

Perhaps she takes advantage of him...

Perhaps she doesn’t submit like he wants her to...

You can’t be like the men of Rome who force people to submit to them…you must love instead…something very radical to the 1st century man!

This idea of being bitter toward your wife, is like water being bitter or poisoned and a person drinks it and it is harmful to them.

So this is about a husband using his strength, his power and his position to be harsh and cause harm to his spouse.

This would be the culture of Rome…if Rome wants something they take it, if Rome is offended, they lash out and put down any rebellion.

Rome was all about forced submission of others.

Men who become Christians now need to have a completely different approach to their wife...one where bitterness and harsh domineering leadership is replaced with the loving leadership personified in Christ.

A husband and wife who are setting their minds on things above, will function in a way toward each other that is consistent with this text…husbands will lovingly lead as Christ would have them lead, wives will willingly submit to the leadership of their husband as they would to the leadership of Christ.

[1] Word Biblical Commentary, Volume 44: Colossians, Philemon (223)

Submission does not mean inferiority.

Submission is not absolute.

Submission is not mindless obedience

Submission is the voluntary

As is fitting in the Lord…the wife is not obligated to follow her husband’s leadership if it conflicts with specific scriptural commands.

Faithfully Fulfill Your Role in the Family (20-21).

Colossians 3:20 NASB95

Children, be obedient to your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord.

Children Obey

Colossians 3:20 NASB95

Children, be obedient to your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord.

Children Obey

Here is a novel, crazy idea that just might make a positive impact on the church and perhaps even carry over into our culture…Children are supposed to Obey.

Children are not to inform the parents what they want and what they do not like and expect the parent to cater to their ever changing whims and fancies…children must be taught that they are to glorify God by recognizing their role, their job is simply obey.

This is actually a different word that submit— that is why it is translated as Obey, the text shifts to a higher level of instruction.

The wife is to willingly place herself under and follow the husbands leadership, whereas the child is to take the instructions from their parents and obey.

So with a husband and wife, there should be a discussion, prayer, working through options, input, feedback, preferences, and then ultimately if there is not agreement the husband needs to decide and the wife needs to follow.

That is not that same process with our children.

Do you prefer to put your clothes away and brush your teeth and shower regularly…

...no, you don’t okay, let me think and pray and weigh the pro’s and cons about if you should clean your room…I want to make sure I don’t damage your psyche by forcing you to do something you don’t want to do...

Biblical parenting is not cruelty, it is teaching them to follow authority that will serve them well for the rest of their lives. And it may actually preserve their lives…most importantly it is well pleasing to the Lord!

They are to do this in all things…children are to obey ultimately because the Lord commands it and He is pleased when children obey their parents in all things...

iv. They are to do this in all things, as they see their role as most important than the actual task, and how while they are under the protection and provision of their parents house, they are to be completely under the instructions of their parents.

Children are to obey ultimately because the Lord commands it and He is pleased when children obey their parents in all things...

c. C.f.

Parents Encourage

Colossians 3:21 NASB95

Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so that they will not lose heart.

Fathers = same word translated parents in ...

We need to admit that it is easy to exasperate children and cause them to lose heart…

Mothers and fathers are both responsible to bring up the children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord...But perhaps since the husband is the leader of the family, he is in a position where he is most likely to exasperate. He may not use his authority to lead and serve but rather quarrel and exasperate.

Exasperate: other words: Embitter, arouse, provide, to cause someone to react in a way that suggests acceptance of a challenge

c. But perhaps since the husband is the leader of the family, he is in a position where he is most likely to exasperate. He may not use his authority to lead and serve but rather quarrel and exasperate.

Exasperate: other words: Embitter, arouse, provide, to cause someone to react in a way that suggests acceptance of a challenge

Another way we could translate this verse is “stop nagging your kids”...

i. Embitter, arouse, provide,

1. to cause someone to react in a way that suggests acceptance of a challenge[1]

It is used in — as stir up...

The temptation is to rise up and meet that challenge.

Losing heart = without courage, or spirit…parents we do this when we fail to parent biblically…parenting biblically is to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord…when this is out of balance is when we exasperate our children....

Ways we can exasperate our kids...

Overprotection

Learn to trust your children…give them guidelines but allow them some freedom to operate within those guidelines...

When we communicate a lack of trust in them, in their eyes, nothing they do will earn your trust so they rebel...

Favoritism

Don’t compare your children to others children…or to each other

Depreciating their worth

Learn to listen to your children…they have feelings and thoughts about things much like you do…don’t make them feel like their opinion doesn’t matter

Unrealistic goals

Find ways to reward them for the good they do…let them know when they succeed…celebrate small victories...

Not showing affection

Communicate love through words and actions...

Not providing for their needs

Lack of standards

This is the flip side of overprotection…a failure to discipline or a practice of inconsistent discipline leaves our children to navigate life on their own…to figure out on their own what is wrong and right.

Criticism

Neglect

Absalom is the prime example of neglect…David was indifferent to him and that led him to rebellion, civil war and ultimately Absalom’s death

Be involved in your children’s lives!

Excessive discipline

Don’t be abusive physically, emotionally or verbally…never discipline out of anger…don’t say things to your children you wouldn’t say to anyone else...

It is used in — as stir up...

Faithfully Fulfill Your Role in the Workforce ().

a parent has more resources than a child, and has a position of authority over them, so they can really make life difficult for their children if they want to…they can stir up resentment and bitterness in their children…Here is a hard lesson I continue to have to learn the children respond to you the way you respond to them

How can losing heart happen?

How can this happen?

i. Not encouraging them…

ii. Only pointing out faults…

iii. Being harsh and not allowing for freedom…

iv. controlling by using fear or manipulation…

We need to be creating an atmosphere in our homes that makes obedience and easy and natural matter, an atmosphere of love, acceptance and confidence.

Faithfully Fulfill Your Role in the Workforce ()

The principle here is how do you relate to someone else who is in charge of the work you are to do everyday?

This fits in this text of the home relationships because of the structure of the home in ancient times… in our culture we would refer to this as employer/employee relationship.

Slavery in biblical times…time does not permit full disclosure on this topic…here is how we need to understand it for our purpose today...

Slavery in Bible times was in many ways closer to our working relationships today, than it was to slavery in America.

Slavery in the USA was completely detestable.

It is very important to understand that slavery in Bible times was not like slavery in places like, for example, the United States of America.

that certainly doesn’t make it right, but it does make it different.

In Greco-Roman society, it was impossible to distinguish a slave on the basis of clothing, color, or race.

In American society, slavery was racial, with African slaves and white masters. In Greco-Roman society, it was impossible to distinguish a slave on the basis of clothing, color, or race.

Slaves in the ancient world had many legal rights including the right to appeal to a higher authority in the case of harsh or unfair treatment.

Slaves in our country had no legal rights. Slaves in the ancient world had many legal rights including the right to appeal to a higher authority in the case of harsh or unfair treatment.

In the ancient world, slaves were often of higher status than people who were free, depending on their masters.

In ancient Greece and Rome, slavery was often freely chosen…people would make themselves slaves because they saw it as a better opportunity…you could be a doctor and be a slave…you could be a teacher and be a slave… that doesn’t mean there weren’t abuses of the system…some masters were cruel...

In ancient Greece or Rome, slavery was often viewed as an opportunity. Large numbers of people sold themselves into slavery to find a better life than what they had as free people. As slaves, it was possible to secure special jobs and to climb socially.

In the ancient world slaves often held high positions in civil service and in the business world. They served as physicians, nurses to their owners, they taught the children and were companions to the elderly.

slaves were often well educated, acting as tutors or advisors to their owners.

Slavery in the USA was completely detestable. It was the result of kidnapping. In ancient Greece and Rome, slavery was often freely chosen. Being free was frequently a disadvantage for the slave and financially advantageous for the master.

- American slaves had no hope of a normal family life. In the ancient world, slaves often maintained a separate existence from their masters. They even held down outside work to increase their savings.

It would be incorrect to read our country’s experience with slavery back into this text, or any NT passage on this topic…that’s why it is very appropriate for us to use this passage to discuss employee/employer relations today,

As an employee you work for God.

So the principle here is that in every relationship, someone has to have the final say…someone has to be in charge and someone has to be under.

How are we to function in those roles to the glory of God.

As an employee you work for God.

Colossians 3:22–23 NASB95

Slaves, in all things obey those who are your masters on earth, not with external service, as those who merely please men, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men,

Notice how Paul addresses slaves. He puts them on equal ground as everyone else as they have responsibilities to the Lord even in their circumstances.

a. First, it is remarkable how Paul addresses slaves. He puts them on equal ground as everyone else as they have responsibilities to the Lord even in their circumstances.

Paul never condones slavery, but he helps someone who is in that situation to still focus on living for the Lord.

Notice how he says, those who are your masters on Earth.

He is laying the ground work, that those who are in charge are not ultimately in charge.

He says not to do it with external service only…you are to work from the heart when you are seen or not seen.

It is sort of like when you just look like you are working hard when your boss walks by...And inevitably you could work really hard and take a 5 min break and that is exactly when your boss comes by.

And inevitably you could work really hard and take a 5 min break and that is exactly when your boss comes by.

Or you find yourself working hard to meet the goals and someone else is given credit for their work which is obviously less impressive and yours is overlooked…

The point is to not worry about that either way, but to work from the heart when you are seen or not seen.

Because you have a fear of the Lord, not of man, even those who are earthly masters.

Whatever work we do, we are to work heartily unto the Lord, because even earthly people we serve, we are really serving the Lord.

Do you ever stop to think the everyday tasks you do for others is actually for the Lord...God wants your whole being to be devoted to him, even the tasks you do for those in charge of you.

8) God wants your whole being to be devoted to him, even the tasks you do for those in charge of you.

Paul specifically reminds them to do it with all their heart, knowing that working for someone that way is very hard.

As a Boss you treat your employees as you want God to treat you.

Colossians 4:1 NASB95

Masters, grant to your slaves justice and fairness, knowing that you too have a Master in heaven.

ii. Employer:

While you might not own your own business, you might be placed in some sort of authority...The text says If you oversee someone, you should always seek to promote justice and fairness.

b. The text says If you oversee someone, you should always seek to promote justice and fairness.

This is not just what you think is just and fair, but it is a recognition that there is something right outside of just who you are as a boss…

You recognize that God is watching you and you want God to deal with you in ways that are fair and just, so you too treat your employees with that same level of thinking...

If a follower of Christ is in charge of others, they are to do so with Justice and Fairness that comes from an understanding of How God brings about justice and fairness throughout redemption history…you want

You are to recognize that you have a master…God really owns your business…if we were to ask those under you what view they have of God by observing you what would they say?

Remember You Reap What You Sow!

Colossians 3:24–25 NASB95

knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality.

Think about your rewards...

i. In this life, you can lose anything and everything.

In this life, you can lose anything and everything...When you work for the Lord, you can’t lose anything – your life is hidden with Christ.

ii. When you work for the Lord, you can’t lost anything – your life is hidden with Christ.

You may not receive recognition or rewards on earth for your work, but God sees what you do and has rewards reserved in heaven for you...

This ought to motivate us at the heart level, not just if someone sees us and rewards us in the earthly life…but rather we want to be able to give something back to our Lord...

Think about the consequences...

A believer cannot lose their salvation as it is secure in Christ, but that does not mean there are no consequences of lost rewards if we treat others in a way that does not honor the Lord.

Remember all will be made right...

either the good or bad you have done.

There will not be favoritism or partiality based on your position or external appearance, for God judges righteously.

the Lord wants all of you all the time, because you are intimately connected to Christ and that is to impact every relationship each day, but especially the people you see the most…spouse, children, co-workers.

the Lord wants all of you all the time, because you are intimately connected to Christ and that is to impact every relationship each day, but especially the people you see the most…your spouse, your kids, and your boss/supervision.

We are all to work heartily for the Lord rather than for men no matter what role or stage of life we are in because, if we are raised up with Christ, we are his bride, his child and his servant.

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