A Perfect World?

In an ideal world, there would be no conflict in marriages, no rebellious or mistreated children, no lazy employees that could not be trusted and no employers who mistreated their workers. How do I know this? Because the Bible describes it . . .

Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality. Masters, treat your bondservants justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven. (Colossians 3:18–4:1)

I know, I know that that first ‘S’ word enrages some people, even men. They don’t realize it is not about a doormat demeaner. It simply means an attitude of not always insisting on my own way. Surprisingly, the meaning of submission and the meaning of love (what hubbies are supposed to do) are not that different. They both mean putting the needs and desires of others before our own.

Take that ‘harsh’ business out of marriage and we have no abuse nor women afraid of men. Put in ‘obey’ and ‘do not provoke’ and we have happy kids — not prone to sass or argument. Of course, these verse need sound exegesis to bring out the full meaning of what is said, yet even a simple reading paints peaceful pictures of family life. Compare these verses to the ‘twin’ letter of Ephesians results in more clarity to God’s plan:

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. (Ephesians 5:22–6:4)

The same goes for the verses about master/servant relationships when applied to boss/employee. Imagine the changes in many workplaces if these instructions were the norm:

Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free. Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him. (Ephesians 6:5–9)

Will it happen? Can it happen? Only in the reality of Holy Spirit control and only when that fullness is constant without anyone letting their old sinful nature take charge. Realistically, the former is rare, and the latter is far too prevalent.

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Lord Jesus, all I can say about this is that I must do my part. In the Spirit, my heart is set to do Your will, not insist on my own way. I’m much easier for my husband to love when I’m not being selfish. This goes two ways. That ‘S’ word is easier when he isn’t being selfish either. For that, I must trust You because if I try to make it happen, I’ve fallen into a lack of trust in You! No, we don’t live in a perfect world — yet. One day, in eternity, it will be so. For now, I experience a taste now and then, but the fullness is yet to come. In that day, all will be what You intended — sinless and living by the power of God.

Today’s thankful list . . .

The promise of perfection with Christ in eternity.

A day of purging my PC in almost total silence!

Peanut butter and lettuce sandwiches.

Hubby had a good golf game on another lovely day.

Supper on the beach.

My new phone with its amazing GPS.

Dairy Queen Blizzards.