Colossians 3:18-21

Dear Brethren,

Good Morning!

The family relationship should be a tightly woven relationship. In order to accomplish such a solid family structure, every family member should be doing their part as instructed by the heavenly Father. In Paul's letter to the church in Colosse, he established the pattern for a godly family.

• The wife is to submit to her husband, "as is fitting in the Lord." According to Ephesians 5, the husband is the head of the family. As a result, he is to lead the family and direct the family. The wife is to willingly submit to her husband's rule. The statement "as is fitting in the Lord" would exclude the wife from following her husband if he directs the family away from God. While Genesis 2 establishes the wife as a companion suitable for the husband, she is still to be in submission to her husband, following his rule and leadership.
• Just as the wife's submission is crucial to a solid family relationship, so is the husband's love for his wife. Paul told the husbands to love their wives, not being bitter towards them. The husband's love for his wife must be greater than his love for anyone else, except for the Lord. He should not be mean spirited towards his wife. He must not be "bitter" or angry towards his wife. The husband is to rule the wife with a loving heart, compassion, and understanding. While the husband is to rule, he is to rule with love.
• The children also have an important part to play in this tightly woven family. The children are to obey their parents "in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord." This teaching is very simple and easy to understand; children must obey their parents.
• Leadership often carries a double duty. Fathers carry the added responsibility of not provoking their children to anger. Fathers, as well as mothers, are to command their children, but in this passage it becomes clear that the ruler of the house must not rule in a way that would discourage his children. Discouragement can be caused by treating the children unjustly, unfairly, being overly angry, etc. A ruler of the house must command his children with love, fairness, equity, and compassion.
  

Not everyone in the world accepts Paul's guidelines for the family structure. Many marriages struggle with who will rule the family. There are husbands who refuse to rule and wives who refuse to submit. There are children who never obey and fathers who dominate the family without regard to fairness, love, compassion, etc. However, Christians possess the guidelines for a tightly woven family relationship, filled with love, compassion, and cooperation. Such godly relationships can be enjoyed by the saints throughout the world.

Here is Colossians 3:18-21 presented for your consideration.

18 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them.

20 Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.

21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

In Love,

John Duvall