7/18/12- Household lists

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

¹⁹ Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.

²⁰ Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.

²¹ Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.

²² Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord.

Thoughts: There are several household lists in the scripture and especially the New Testament- Ephesians 5 and 1 John 2 are two prime examples.  I have heard some say that such passages are no longer valid for us because they are written by a primitive,patriarchal culture and we know so much more today.  There is some truth that we must appreciate the culture that the Bible was written in- otherwise it would not make any sense at all.  For example, we do not have slaves today in America (unless you want to call those who are in debt up to their eyeballs slaves- or indentured servants).  On a side note- the Bible does not encourage slavery- but it limits slavery and debt (the year of Jubilee, for example, all Hebrew slaves were set free and debts forgiven). Yet there are some major principles here from which we can learn. I would contend that we are not more civil than the culture in the scripture.  There is much more divorce (it has hovered around 50% since the great rebellion in the 60's), more abuse, and more drug abuse, anxiety and depression than ever.
      Let's look at some principles here:
1) Submission- Eph. 5:21 and 1 Peter 2:13ff. speak of the need of everyone to submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.  

2) Love- love is something all are called to do as well.  In our society that values lust over love, selfishness over sacrifice- love is God's claim upon us. 

3) Not being harsh- harshness is similar to meanness.  It is degrading and demeaning others.  Those who have the ability to be harsh without repercussions need to be sensitive and kind.  A great example of this regard is Boaz. 
4) Obedience- We are all called to live a life of obedience to those over us.  Yes, there are times when God delivers us (like Moses from Egypt, Gideon from the Midianites, Hezekiah from the Assyrians, Elijah from Jezebel, Peter and John from the authorities).  We must always, when there is a conflict, obey God rather than humans.
5) Not embittering- It is too easy to rub someone's nose in the dirt just because you can.  Parents especially need to be kind to their children- welcoming them back as the prodigal, not insisting in their own way. 
6) Work- when we are called to work we should work not just for money or because we have to ("I owe, I owe so off to work I go").  Christians are called to do the best we can- the best work possible as a witness to our faith- going the extra mile- not just for show or to maintain our job, contributing to society. 
7) Sincerity and reverence- All Christians are called to live our lives deeply, transparently, purely.  "Sincerely" means literally "without wax."  Wax was used to cover up and protect what was waxed over, and it was also used like bondo on cars- to fill in- but it was not as strong.  Reverence for God- respect for Him breeds sincerity and purity in the way we live. 
In our day of selfishness, selfishness, harshness, having to have our own way, embitterness, poor-work ethic, deceptiveness and lack of respect and holiness- this passage teaches us a different- and I believe- better way to live. 


Prayer: In a world full of heartache and selfishness , Lord teach me a different way- your way of peace.