Jesus Christ must be the heart of your life, the focus of your energy, the center of your all that you do. That relationship affects all other relationships because that vital union with Christ is foundational to all that you do in all relationships. One, this passage assumes the work of the Spirit in the believer! Two, the believer's relationship to Christ determines all his relationships. Three, the believer's relationship to Christ has priority over all other relationships. Husbands and Wives— does a wife submit to her husband because he is always so wonderful, wise, gentle, thoughtful, tender, affectionate, caring, and handsome? NO! She submits "as to the Lord" (v. 22). Her primary relationship with Christ determines her relationship with her husband. Does a husband love his wife because she is always loveable, beautiful, wonderful, endearing, delightful, respectful, humble, etc. ? NO! He loves her for Christ's sake, as Christ loved the church, in obedience to Christ. His relationship to Christ has priority and in love to Christ and obedience to Him, he loves His wife.
Employers and Employees — we don't have a slave situation anymore in America and that is good. But consider this, if Paul highlights a slaves relationship to Christ as primary and that it determines how he relates to his master, then how much more for us with our bosses?
Therefore 1. BE COMMITTED TO CARVING OUT DAILY TIMES TO MEET WITH YOUR LORD AND SAVIOR.
2. DELIBERATELY TAKE STEPS TO KNOW YOUR SAVIOR BETTER.
3. SEEK TO HONOR CHRIST IN ALL YOUR RELATIONSHIPS. |