Reflecting Christ in Marriage, Family, and Work

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But, in all seriousness, she looks here. She said, you know what? This is great. This is where I really, I really, I think this is a great place to be. But, you know what? I think I'm going to go up one more floor, just in case. Just in case there's something better. So, she goes up to the next floor, and this floor, it says, these are men with jobs, who love children, who are good looking, and who are sensitive to their wives. Wow, right? Ladies, this is where you would want to find your husband, right? This is the perfect, perfect husband. But she says, you know what? As great as this is, every floor has been getting better. So, maybe, just maybe, there's something better on the next floor. So, she goes up to the fifth floor, and on the fifth floor, it says, these are men who love, who have jobs, who love children, who are drop -dead gorgeous, who are sensitive to their wives' needs, and get this, ladies, who will watch a Hallmark movie with you. That's it, right? That's it. That's the place where you want to stay. [00:39:47] (56 seconds)


But this particular young woman said, you know what? Every floor has gotten better, so floor number six has got to be the best of the best. That's where the best guy has got to be. And so, he goes up to the sixth floor, and on, I mean, she goes up to the sixth floor. Excuse me, we're not that kind of church. She goes up to the sixth floor, and on the sixth floor, there's a sign that reads, you are visitor number 31 ,622 ,612. There are no men on this floor, and it's proof positive that women just can't be satisfied. Anyway, send your emails to tfus at hhbc .net. [00:40:42] (39 seconds)


Anyway, back to the passage. I'm sorry to get off on that, but the passage begins, Paul begins, by saying, wives, submit to your husbands. Now, let's pause here for a second. Paul doesn't say, he doesn't say, wives, submit to any man, or even submit to the ideal version of your husband. He says, or the one you imagine on the wedding day, or the one he might become if he just would read a few more books. No, it says, submit to your husband, the one that you have right now, the one that you got. And let's be honest, a lot of times we like to negotiate with the Lord, like, Lord, I'm on board with this command, just as soon as you give me the guy who's like a combination between Tom Cruise and the Apostle Paul. [00:41:21] (42 seconds)


And here, ladies, it's not about superiority. Or it's not about spiritual rank. About spiritual rank. It's about reflecting something heavenly. Something that God designed. [00:42:18] (11 seconds)


Back in Genesis, both man and woman were made in God's image. They were equal in value. But they were distinct in their roles. Adam was tasked with the idea of leading. While Eve was created to help. Not because she was less. [00:42:29] (15 seconds)


But because her role was beautifully made. And beautifully different. And look at what Jesus did. When Jesus came to the earth, he submitted to his father. Not because he was showing weakness. Because he was equal with God. But it was strength. [00:42:43] (15 seconds)


So when the Christian wife honors her husband's role. When she's not silencing her voice. It's not that he's silencing her voice. But she's showing us something of Jesus. How he loved. And how he submitted. And that doesn't mean that you're being a doormat. And you're agreeing with everything. It means that you are using your gifts. And your wisdom to strengthen your husband. As he carries the weight that God has laid upon him. You are supporting him. You're not tearing him down. Or trying to outshine him. But yet you're building him up. And you're walking beside him along the way. [00:43:02] (34 seconds)


And you know every home looks different. In ours. Amy's an amazing wife. I married up. There's absolutely no question about that. You know that. She's more organized. She's more kind. She's a lot nicer than I am. [00:43:36] (16 seconds)


And she's often the better parent. And I would be foolish to try to take over things. That she already excels at. But we listen to one another. We talk to one another. We lean at each other's strengths. And most importantly. This isn't just a rule. It's the word of God. [00:43:50] (19 seconds)


If we hear it as just another outdated command. We resist it. And we say no that's not for me. But if we see it as a way to reflect Christ. We see it as a way to reflect Jesus. We'll find beauty. And we'll find grace. [00:44:10] (13 seconds)


And if that matters in our lives. Then how would that look in our lives today? Now husbands. You're not left off the hook. Because he goes right into it to husbands. And if we look at Ephesians chapter 5. Ephesians chapter 5 tells us. To love your wives just as Christ loved the church. And gave himself up for her. [00:44:23] (21 seconds)


Paul doesn't say lead your wives. Make sure she obeys. He says love her. Think about that. Think about her. Think about sacrificing for her. Just as Jesus did for us. And Proverbs 31. It gives us a lot of verses. But the one I want to focus on here. It says a wife of noble character. Is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her. And that's not just being nice. That's choosing your wife again and again. Putting her first. Dying to yourself. And Paul adds don't be harsh with her. And that's not just talking about like shouting or manipulating. But quieter forms. Like when we withhold gratitude. [00:44:45] (43 seconds)


Because gratitude matters in your marriage. If you can thank your co -workers. If you can thank the person that waits on you in a restaurant. The person that makes your cup of coffee. But you can't thank your wife. You can't be grateful to your wife. That creates a cold home. [00:45:32] (16 seconds)


Why can't you be like that kid that plays so good on the soccer team? Why can't you be as smart as the neighbor's kid? And when we do things like that, kids stop believing that they're enough and that they please you. But think about how God treats us. He doesn't belittle us. He doesn't discourage us. He encourages us. He builds us up. He guides us. He encourages us in our daily lives. [00:49:38] (26 seconds)


And that's the kind of parent that we're called to be. We're called to be the kind of parent that is full of encouragement for our kids. The kind of parent that can open up a child's heart because we're encouraging them. It helps them to think, I can do this. Now, Paul isn't saying that if you parent perfectly and everything goes well in your life that you're going to follow Jesus. We can't control that. [00:50:02] (23 seconds)


But for who God's going to make them to be. Psalm 127 says this. It says, Children are a heritage from the Lord. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one's youth. That's life -giving. [00:50:35] (14 seconds)


And I remember my mom told me this once. She said, You'll never know how much I love you until you have children of your own and you love them like I love you. [00:50:49] (11 seconds)


If you're a parent, you know that's true. That you'll never know. Your kids will never know how much you love them. And listen, I'm not claiming to be the perfect parent. I've messed up a lot. I don't deserve the kids I have. I've had to ask for forgiveness over and over at different times. [00:51:00] (16 seconds)


But you know, at the end of my life, knowing that I'll spend my eternity with my Savior, if I have the love and the respect of my children and my wife, I'll consider that I've had a life well lived. So there it is. Husbands, kids, wives. [00:51:22] (19 seconds)


And this is a place where a lot of us can relate. Because a lot of us spend a lot of times in our jobs. And we have bosses. And we often wonder if what we do really, truly matters. [00:51:52] (11 seconds)


Paul says this to employees. He says, he starts by addressing the slaves. And in the Roman time, these households served. They were household servants. He talks to these people in the same section. He talks to parents and to children. Because Paul tells them, he says, slaves, obey your earthly master in everything that you do. [00:52:10] (20 seconds)


Verse 23 says, whatever you do, work it with all your heart. As if you're working for the Lord and not for men. Ecclesiastes 9 .10 says, whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might. Proverbs 16 .3, commit to the Lord whatever you do. 1 Corinthians 10 .31, whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. [00:52:57] (21 seconds)


like you're serving Jesus. When that client is difficult to deal with and you've got to call them back, call them back like Jesus is on the phone with you. That's the perspective we've got to think about. Maybe your boss is tough. Maybe the tasks are draining. Maybe no one appreciates you. Maybe no one notices you, but Jesus does. [00:53:19] (19 seconds)


And that's what Paul's getting at. We don't work to impress people. We work with our heart out of reference for God. Jesus gave us all for us. We've got to do our best for him because your work has eternal value. Working for Jesus brings peace. It brings motivation. It brings reward. Verse 24 says you'll receive an inheritance. You'll receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. If it is the Lord that you are serving. [00:53:54] (27 seconds)


You might mow the same yard, care for the same patients who won't help themselves, but Jesus sees what you're doing. He sees you. Maybe no one thanked you. Maybe the yard grew back again, but Jesus says your work counts. Paul adds a warning. He says anyone who does wrong will be repaid for wrong. There's no favoritism. Christians shouldn't, don't get a pass for lazy work. Jesus is, isn't impressed with people slacking off. As once was, as someone once said, the Christian shoemaker doesn't do his duty by putting shoes on, by putting crosses on shoes. They do it by making good shoes. [00:54:26] (41 seconds)


Colossians 4 .1 then turns the attention to bosses. It says masters provide your slaves with what is right and fair because you know you have a master in heaven. If you're a boss, if you're an employer, your employees matter to Christ. What you do matters. What's right and fair, you might ask. Well, remember, you're accountable. You're accountable to Christ for how you treat your people. Just like employees. Everyone has employees. The employers have to answer to Jesus as well. Treat your people how you'd want to be treated. Treat them how Jesus treats you. That's the heart of it. That's Jesus' words. With the measure you use, it will be measured to you. That's applied in your workplace. [00:55:07] (42 seconds)


The bottom line is Jesus is the Lord of the marketplace. He is Lord over Elon Musk. He is Lord over the Walmart manager. He is Lord over every office. He's Lord over every job site. Your workplaces may be messy. Teachers have to deal with boards and parents. Nurses have to juggle patients and doctors and HR. But the passage clearly brings it out. It says, do your job like Jesus is your boss. Treat others the way you want to be treated. That's loving God. And that's loving your neighbor. Even at work. [00:55:50] (35 seconds)


You're showing up and you're doing your job because he says it matters. So no matter what your job looks like, Jesus, do it for Jesus because he's the one that's worth it. [00:56:32] (11 seconds)


Or how things could have been different. But that's where we need to remember it's not easy. And change doesn't happen overnight. But God sees you. He sees every disappointment. And he will be there for you. One day we'll see the broken pieces of our lives. And we'll see that even those fit into his beautiful plan. And I know right now that's hard to grasp, right? [00:57:09] (23 seconds) Ask a question about this sermon