Human Relations

Colossians 3:18- 4:1

3:18 Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them. 20Children, be obedient to your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord. 21Fathers do not exasperate your children, so that they will not lose heart. 22Slaves, 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. 23Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, 24knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. 25For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality.
4:1 1Masters, grant to your slaves justice and fairness, knowing that you too have a Master in heaven

Observations:

· Here, as in Eph. 5 and 6, Paul deals with various human relations, giving clear instructions. Let’s read this Scripture again and see if it won’t improve both our understanding and our relationships.
· Husband and wife: In both Scriptures wives are mentioned first, not because they have a greater responsibility but probably because their attitude and action so greatly influence their husbands and their homes. Wives are to respect and submit to their husbands and husbands are to love and not be embittered against their wives. Wives are not told to love their husbands, nor are husbands told to submit to their wives. This is God’s order. This is the way marriage works.
· Children are to be obedient to their parents in all things. If children expect to be blessed as family members, they must accept their responsibility as family members.
· Fathers must not exasperate (frustrate, infuriate) their children, causing them to lose heart.
· Slaves are to obey their masters with sincerity of heart. (Perhaps this could now be applied to employees).
· Masters are to treat their subordinates with justice and fairness.
· No matter who you serve, you are serving the Lord, who will see that “he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done.”

Remarks:

· How can a wife be subject to a husband who is angry, demanding and cruel?
· How can a husband love a wife who is neglectful, controlling and cold?
· How will children learn to obey their parents if they are not nurtured in a loving home?
· How can a child grow up to have a good life and family of his or her own if he or she is unruly and demanding?
· Is there anyone more cruel that a father who exasperates and intimidates his child?
· Everyone, not just masters, should be just and fair with those under his authority.
· I just felt like asking questions today; I’ll leave it to my readers to answer them. I’ve had my share of doing things wrong and receiving the consequences of the wrong which I have done. What I want to do now is to admonish and exhort others to live close to the Lord, to avoid pitfalls and to make the most of their time.It is one thing to learn these principles of human relations and another thing to practice them. I suggest that all learn these principles thoroughly, and when there is a situation that calls for specific action, let them be aware of what they are doing. Isn’t it strange how people are so careful about following instruction in every area of life and in the use of every product, but so careless in following God’s instructions regarding human relations?