December 30, 2001

MARRIAGE, FAMILY, & WORK

Ephesians 5:21-33

   Marriage, family and work pretty well cover the main areas of life. And these are the very areas the apostle of grace shows us how to apply the great teachings of the grace of God, the Mystery of Christ our glorified Head and Lord, and our position in the heavenlies. Our submission to Christ will be reflected in every relationship.

   Paul had most to say about marriage for several reasons. This relationship was instituted in Eden's garden. And if we do not get this right all else will surely suffer. God said marriage expresses oneness of the two and that it is for life. But the child/parent relationship is very different. Children are to be prepared to leave the home. Also this relationship did not begin until after Adam and Eve were put outside Eden. The slave/master relationship was established later and resulted from the fall. At first Adam only tended Eden's garden, but after the fall his work would be by the sweat of his brow. In this case, he will work at the direction of another. There is nothing perm-anent about one's master, for that could change from time to time.

   The wife is to submit to her husband as the church does to Christ. The husband is to love his wife as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it. Both are sanctified by the spiritual relationship of Christ and the church. Their oneness is compared to the oneness of Christ and the "church, which is His body." Unlike the child/parent and the slave/master relationships, there is no command to obey or measure of enforcement. Submission is the word and it is to be voluntarily. Sarah called Abraham "Lord," but not because she had to!

   What better training could a father give his sons and daughters but by loving his wife (their mother) as Christ loved the church? What better training could be given daughters than a mother loving and submitting to their father? How better could parents teach the obedience they require than to show their own obedience and submission to the Lord? And in the workplace, would there be the need of shop steward and negotiations mediator or risk of a strike if the master treated servants with respect and paid "that which is fair and equal"?

Ivan L. Burgener