What Does a Healthy Family Look Like – Col 3 18-21

About this Episode

What Does a Healthy Family Look Like Col 3 18-21 is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast

I think it’s safe to say that there is something wrong in many homes today. There are many statistics out there but in America, there are more broken homes today than ever before. Single-parent families are on the increase. Over half of all mothers are now forced to work and not be able to spend as much time with their kids as needed. The average American child from 6 to 16 watches about 30 to 40 hours of TV/Videos each week and is greatly influenced by what they see. The first institution God founded on earth was the home in Gen 2:18-25.

The saying goes “As the home goes, so goes the society and the nation”. Centuries ago Confucius said, “The strength of a nation is derived from the integrity of its homes”. One of the greatest things we can do as individuals is to help build godly Christian homes. Today in our Reading we will see Paul address the various members of the family as well as point out the factors that make for a strong and Godly home.

Colossians 3:18-21 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting for those who belong to the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives and never treat them harshly. 20 Children, always obey your parents, for this pleases the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not aggravate your children, or they will become discouraged.

● THE First way we can help build healthy homes is for Husbands to lead their family spiritually and wives do what is necessary to help them lead and balance them out.

18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting for those who belong to the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives and never treat them harshly.

Paul did not address the wives first because they were the neediest. The gospel radically changed the position of women in the Roman World. It gave them new freedom and stature that some of them were unable to handle, and for this reason, Paul admonished them.

Scripture references: Eph 5:22-33, 1 Peter 3:1

The word submission. This word is not referencing slavery or subjugation. The word comes from the military vocabulary and simply means to arrange under rank. It only means they have different ranks.

1 Cor 14:40 “But be sure that everything is done properly and in order” God is a God of order. If he did not have a chain of command in society, we would have chaos. This does not mean man is better than woman, it only means that the man has the responsibility of headship and leadership in the home.

Headship is not a dictatorship; It is supposed to be a loving leadership. All leadership should be submitted first to the Lord. True spiritual submission is the secret of growth and fulfillment in a couple’s life. There should be no selfish independence in marriage. No separate bank accounts.

Verse 19 it says “for the Husbands to love His wife”. That word there is agape love. That is the sacrificing serving love that Christ shares with the church.

Eph 5:18 Husbands must love their wives as Christ loved the church.

Eph 4:15 speak truth in love, Eph 4:26 let not the sun go down upon your wrath.

● Next way to have a healthy family is for Parents and children to function properly

20 Children, always obey your parents, for this pleases the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not aggravate your children, or they will become discouraged

Not just parents but their elders as well. Children do not create problems, they reveal them. Parents that cannot discipline themselves cannot discipline their children.

Mothers and Fathers must be under authority in order for children to be as well. If Mom and Dad complain about govt, police, other people and have a rebellious heart, how do they expect their kids to act.

Parents need to listen to their kids and hear what they might be going through. Show them compassion.

Discouraged children are fair prey for Satan and the world. When a child does not get enough encouragement at home, he will seek it elsewhere.

Never compare your children with each other.