Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. Ephesians 5:25
Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4
And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him. Ephesians 6:9
This is a more recent revelation, gained whilst studying Ephesians this year. I have deliberately chosen these readings because they represent the other side of the coin. We often get told that women should obey their husbands and that children should obey their parents and that we should all be good loyal employees but these verses which are attached to them don’t get quite the same air play.
Paul has had quite a lot of bad press too over those statements but when put together with these we see a harmony that has to exist within relationship. It takes two to make a relationship and we can only do our half of it. See if you agree with the following statements.
‘I would be happy to obey someone who was willing to give up his life for me.’
‘I would be happy to give up anything for someone who did whatever I asked her to’
‘I would do what I was told if that never made me angry’
‘It would be easy to teach someone who did what I asked first time’
‘I would find it easy to go the extra mile for someone who treated me with care and respect’
‘I could respect and encourage a person who was loyal and conscientious’
That’s how it works. How will this change my behaviour?
