Measuring by God's Standards

CLICK TO EDIT MASTER TEXT STYLES 1 EVERY DAY A MAN USED TO WALK BY A JEWELRY STORE HE WOULD STOP AND SET HIS WATCH BY THE BIG CLOCK IN THE WINDOW. ONE DAY THE JEWELER HAPPENED TO BE STANDING IN HIS DOORWAY. 2 HE GREETED THE MAN IN A FRIENDLY WAY AND SAID; "I SEE YOU SET YOUR WATCH BY MY CLOCK. WHAT KIND OF WORK DO YOU DO THAT DEMANDS SUCH CORRECT TIME EACH DAY?" 3 "I'M THE WATCHMAN AT THE PLANT DOWN THE STREET," SAID THE MAN. "MY JOB IS TO BLOW THE FIVE O'CLOCK WHISTLE." THE JEWELER WAS STARTLED. "BUT...YOU CAN'T DO THAT," HE BLURTED OUT. 4 "I SET MY CLOCK BY YOUR WHISTLE!“ (PAUSE) IN LIFE WE LOOK TO A STANDARD TO SET THINGS. WE SET OUR CLOCKS BY A STANDARD, RULERS ARE BUILD TO A SET STANDARD, THERMOMETERS. 5 WE EVEN SET OUR RELATIONSHIPS BY A STANDARD. THE QUESTION IS NOT DO YOU HOLD YOUR RELATIONSHIPS TO A STANDARD? (PAUSE) THE QUESTION IS WHAT STANDARD DO YOU HOLD IT TO? 6 WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE USE GOD’S STANDARD TO SET OUR RELATIONSHIPS. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF HOUSE HOLD CODES IN THE BIBLE. THESE ARE STANDARDS BY WHICH WE CAN BUILD OUR RELATIONSHIPS. 7 TODAY WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT THE HOUSE HOLD CODE IN COLOSSIANS. TURN TO COLOSSIANS 3:18. PAUL HAD JUST TOLD THEM TO DO EVERYTHING IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS. 8 NOW HE IS GOING TO GIVE THE STANDARD FOR WHAT IT MEANS TO DO THIS. HOW WE ARE TO “DO” LIFE, MARRIAGE, FAMILY, WORK. EVERYTHING WE DO IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS. (PAUSE) 9 COLOSSIANS 3:18–21 WIVES, BE SUBJECT TO YOUR HUSBANDS, AS IS FITTING IN THE LORD. HUSBANDS, LOVE YOUR WIVES AND DO NOT BE EMBITTERED AGAINST THEM. 10 CHILDREN, BE OBEDIENT TO YOUR PARENTS IN ALL THINGS, FOR THIS IS WELL-PLEASING TO THE LORD. FATHERS, DO NOT EXASPERATE YOUR CHILDREN, SO THAT THEY WILL NOT LOSE HEART. 11 HHC “WIVES, BE SUBJECT TO YOUR HUSBANDS,” IN OUR DAY “BE SUBJECT TO” IS A NEGATIVE IDEA. (PAUSE) IN THE BIBLE IT IS USED OF JESUS’ ATTITUDE TOWARD HIS HEAVENLY FATHER. 12 JOHN 6:38 “FOR I HAVE COME DOWN FROM HEAVEN, NOT TO DO MY OWN WILL, BUT THE WILL OF HIM WHO SENT ME. 13 BE SUBJECT TO DOES NOT MEAN BE INFERIOR TO. (PAUSE) IT MEANS THE HUSBAND IS HEAD OF THE HOME. SORRY LADIES THAT’S JUST WHAT IT SAYS. HUSBANDS ARE NOT TOLD TO MAKE THEIR WIVES BE SUBJECT TO THEM. 14 THE GRAMMAR IS VERY CLEAR IN THE GREEK, “WIVES BE SUBJECT BEING SUBJECT IS VOLUNTARILY, IT IS NEVER FORCED. (PAUSE) BE SUBJECT TO IS NOT THE SAME THING AS OBEDIENCE OBEDIENCE IS NOT COMMANDED. 15 THERE IS A LIMIT TO THIS COMMAND TO BE SUBJECT TO; IT IS ONLY “AS IS FITTING IN THE LORD.” THERE ARE TWO WAYS TO UNDERSTAND THIS PHRASE; 16 (1. THE WIFE IS TO BE SUBJECT TO BECAUSE IT WAS FITTING FOR CHRIST TO BE SUBJECT TO THE FATHER (2. THE WIFE IS TO BE SUBJECT TO THE HUSBAND IN ALL THINGS WHICH ARE FITTING IN THE LORD. 17 BOTH ARE TRUE AND USEFUL. WIVES ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES INSTRUCTED TO BE SUBJECT TO. (PAUSE) ALL BELIEVERS ARE INSTRUCTED TO BE SUBJECT TO ONE ANOTHER IN; 18 EPHESIANS 5:21 AND BE SUBJECT TO ONE ANOTHER IN THE FEAR OF CHRIST. THIS HHC IS UNUSUAL FOR ITS TIME IN THE WAY IT ADDRESSES WOMEN. (PAUSE) 19 OTHER HHC OF THAT TIME TELL MEN TO MAKE WOMEN OBEY, PLACING NO LIMIT ON WHAT THE HUSBAND MIGHT COMMAND. ANOTHER DIFFERENCE IN THIS HHC IS THE INSTRUCTION IT GIVES TO THE HUSBAND 20 HHC HUSBANDS LOVE WIVES “HUSBANDS, LOVE YOUR WIVES” NO OTHER HHC OF THIS TIME INSTRUCTED HUSBANDS TO LOVE THEIR WIVES. THIS LOVE IS AGAPE LOVE, SACRIFICIAL, UNCONDITIONAL 21 THE LOVE THAT WILL CAUSE THE HUSBAND TO SACRIFICE HIMSELF. HIS OWN WISHES FOR THE WELL-BEING OF HIS WIFE. 22 EPHESIANS 5:25 HUSBANDS, LOVE YOUR WIVES, JUST AS CHRIST ALSO LOVED THE CHURCH AND GAVE HIMSELF UP FOR HER, 23 HUSBANDS NEED THIS REMINDER MORE THAN WIVES NEED THE REMINDER TO BE SUBJECT TO. WIVES CAN MORE EASILY DO THEIR PART IF HUSBANDS DO THEIRS. HUSBANDS CAN MORE EASILY DO THEIR PART IF WIVES DO THEIRS. 24 GOD IS PRETTY DARN SMART, HOW IT WORKED ALL THAT OUT. AN ADDITIONAL COMMAND IS GIVEN TO THE HUSBAND. “ DO NOT BE EMBITTERED AGAINST THEM.” PAUL IS LIMITING BAD BEHAVIOR BY THE HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD. 25 BITTERNESS IS A STRONG EMOTION THAT RESULTS IN COLDNESS, RUDENESS AND HARSHNESS. IT IS SHARP, RESENTFUL, AND CAN LEAD TO BRUTALITY. 26 THIS CONCEPT (TO NOT BE EMBITTERED) CHANGED MY LIFE. (PAUSE) OUR MARRIAGE WAS A WRECK. MY BITTERNESS POISONED IT. MUCH OF THAT WRECK WAS ON ME. 27 I BAILED ON THE IDEA OF LEADING MY FAMILY. I THOUGHT LOVE WAS AFFECTION OR DESIRE I DID NOT KNOW IT WAS SACRIFICE. WHEN I AM ABLE TO LOVE ERIN THIS WAY EVERYTHING IN LIFE JUST GOES BETTER. (PAUSE) 28 HHC CHILDREN OBEY PARENTS “CHILDREN, BE OBEDIENT TO YOUR PARENTS IN ALL THINGS” NOTICE THAT CHILDREN ARE COMMANDED TO BE OBEDIENT, BUT WIVES ARE REQUESTED TO BE SUBJECT TO, THERE IS A DIFFERENCE 29 THE HARD PART OF THIS COMMAND IS THAT LAST PART; “IN ALL THINGS.” NOT OCCASIONAL OBEDIENCE, BUT CONTINUAL ( RIFF ) DISOBEDIENCE TO PARENTS IS REBELLION AGAINST GOD. 30 EXODUS 20:12 “HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER, THAT YOUR DAYS MAY BE PROLONGED IN THE LAND WHICH THE LORD YOUR GOD GIVES YOU. 31 JESUS SET AN EXAMPLE FOR CHILDREN BY OBEYING HIS PARENTS (PAUSE) 32 LUKE 2:51 AND HE WENT DOWN WITH THEM AND CAME TO NAZARETH, AND HE CONTINUED IN SUBJECTION TO THEM; AND HIS MOTHER TREASURED ALL THESE THINGS IN HER HEART. 33 HHC DON’T FRUSTRATE YOUR CHILDREN “FATHERS, DO NOT EXASPERATE YOUR CHILDREN,” FATHERS SHOULD NOT PRESUME ON THIS OBEDIENCE BY CONTINUAL AGITATION AND UNREASONABLE DEMANDS. 34 EPHESIANS 6:4 FATHERS, DO NOT PROVOKE YOUR CHILDREN TO ANGER, BUT BRING THEM UP IN THE DISCIPLINE AND INSTRUCTION OF THE LORD. 35 NOTICE THAT THE STRESS IS ON THE FATHER’S RESPONSIBILITY AND DUTIES. THIS IS A CONTRAST WITH ROMAN HOUSEHOLD CODES. FATHERS HAD NEARLY UNLIMITED AUTHORITY TO DO AS HE PLEASED WITH HIS CHILDREN. 36 CHILDREN ARE NOT GIVEN FOR THE SERVICE OF PARENTS, BUT PARENTS ARE ORDAINED FOR THE BENEFIT OF CHILDREN. THE REASON IS SIMPLE. (PAUSE) “SO THAT THEY WILL NOT LOSE HEART.” 37 IF A FATHER IS UNJUST OR TOO SEVERE HE WILL PROVOKE HIS CHILDREN TO BITTERNESS. BITTERNESS PRODUCES DISCOURAGEMENT WHICH CAN LEAD TO PERMANENT HOSTILITY. THIS HAS NO PLACE IN THE CHRISTIAN HOME. 38 A CHRISTIAN HOME SHOULD BE MARKED BY UNITY. (PAUSE) MIGRATORY BIRDS IN THE U.S. USED TO BE TAGGED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. WITH LITTLE METAL STRIPS READING "WASH. BIOL. SURV."--FOR WASHINGTON BIOLOGICAL SURVEY. 39 THE CODE WAS CHANGED AFTER A FARMER FROM ARKANSAS WROTE TO THE DEPARTMENT: "DEAR SIRS, I SHOT ONE OF YOUR CROWS. MY WIFE FOLLOWED THE COOKING INSTRUCTIONS ATTACHED TO IT. 40 SHE WASHED IT, BOILED IT AND SERVED IT. (PAUSE) IT WAS THE WORST THING WE EVER ATE." SOMETIMES WE MISREAD OR MISUNDERSTAND INSTRUCTIONS. 41 OTHER TIMES WE UNDERSTAND THEM JUST FINE WE JUST DON’T LIKE THEM. PAUL’S INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE FAMILY ARE VERY CLEAR, SIMPLE, EASY TO UNDERSTAND. THEY ARE FAR HARDER TO LIVE BY. 42 EVERYONE STRUGGLES WITH TO DOING THIS. (PAUSE) GOD IS SUCH A LOVING FORGIVING GOD WE CAN BE CERTAIN HE WILL GIVE US MORE CHANCES TO GET IT RIGHT. HE EVEN GIVES US CHANCES TO PRACTICE THIS CODE WHILE WE ARE AT WORK. 43 COLOSSIANS 3:22 SLAVES, IN ALL THINGS OBEY THOSE WHO ARE YOUR MASTERS ON EARTH, NOT WITH EXTERNAL SERVICE, AS THOSE WHO MERELY PLEASE MEN, BUT WITH SINCERITY OF HEART, FEARING THE LORD. 44 HHC OBEY TO PLEASE GOD NOT MEN WE CAN APPLY THIS IN OUR WORK. OBEDIENCE IS TO BE WITH A SINCERITY OF HEART NOT TO MAKE OUR BOSS HAPPY. 45 WE WILL ALWAYS HAVE WORK TO DO, WE CAN DO IT FOR GOD OR TRY TO PLEASE PEOPLE. IT IS THE CHRISTIAN’S FIRST DUTY TO PLEASE THE LORD. WE DO THIS BEST WHEN WE ARE NOT CHASING RECOGNITION FROM MEN 46 EPHESIANS 6:7 WITH GOOD WILL RENDER SERVICE, AS TO THE LORD, AND NOT TO MEN, 47 UNDERSTANDING THIS HELPS PRODUCE A BETTER AND HEALTHIER ATTITUDE TOWARD WORK IT ALSO HELPS US TO DO OUR WORK WITH PATIENCE. (PAUSE) 48 COLOSSIANS 3:24 KNOWING THAT FROM THE LORD YOU WILL RECEIVE THE REWARD OF THE INHERITANCE. IT IS THE LORD CHRIST WHOM YOU SERVE. 49 HHC GOD REWARDS IN THE ANCIENT WORLD SLAVES HAD NO INHERITANCE RIGHTS. IN CHRIST ALL HAVE AN INHERITANCE! GOD IS GOING TO REWARD THOSE WHO LOVE, WORSHIP, AND SERVE HIM. 50 EPHESIANS 6:8 KNOWING THAT WHATEVER GOOD THING EACH ONE DOES, THIS HE WILL RECEIVE BACK FROM THE LORD, WHETHER SLAVE OR FREE. 51 SOMETIMES WE FELL THERE IS VERY LITTLE TO LOOK FORWARD ON THIS EARTH. PERHAPS SOME SMALL MATERIAL REWARDS, BUT NOTHING PERMANENT. 52 PAUL POINTS TO THE FACT THAT OUR REWARDS ARE SPIRITUAL, HEAVENLY, ETERNAL. SUCH REWARDS CANNOT BE TAKEN AWAY THE REAL MASTER WILL PAY WHAT REALLY MATTERS. 53 COLOSSIANS 3:25 FOR HE WHO DOES WRONG WILL RECEIVE THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE WRONG WHICH HE HAS DONE, AND THAT WITHOUT PARTIALITY. 54 HHC IMPARTIAL CONSEQUENCES THIS COMMENT STARTS OUT DIRECTED TO THE SLAVE. BUT THE LAST PHRASE BRINGS THE MASTER IN. IF THE SLAVE DOES WRONG, HE SHALL BE PUNISHED. 55 BUT THE MASTER WHO DOES WRONG WILL NOT BE EXCUSED; BECAUSE GOD IS IMPARTIAL WITH RESPECT OF PERSONS. NO OTHER HHC SAYS THIS 56 EPHESIANS 6:9 AND MASTERS, DO THE SAME THINGS TO THEM, AND GIVE UP THREATENING, KNOWING THAT BOTH THEIR MASTER AND YOURS IS IN HEAVEN, AND THERE IS NO PARTIALITY WITH HIM. 57 MEN SHOW PARTIALITY, FAVORS ARE GIVEN, DEBTS FORGIVEN, SOME PUNISHED MORE HARSHLY BUT GOD IS NOT IMPRESSED BY OUR POWER, WEALTH, RANK, AS CHRISTIANS WE SHOULD STRIVE TO LIVE IN THIS SAME WAY WITH IMPARTIALITY. 58 DURING THE FALL OF 1775 A MAN WHO APPEARED TO BE A TYPICAL AMERICAN FARMER TRIED TO BOOK A ROOM IN BALTIMORE'S MOST FASHIONABLE HOTEL. 59 CONCERNED ABOUT THE HOTEL'S REPUTATION, THE MANAGER REFUSED TO RENT THE ROOM. THE MAN LEFT AND TOOK A ROOM IN ANOTHER HOTEL. 60 LATER, THE MANAGER LEARNED HE HAD REFUSED A ROOM TO THOMAS JEFFERSON. THE VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. IMMEDIATELY HE SENT AN INVITATION TO JEFFERSON, ASKING HIM TO RETURN TO HIS HOTEL AS HIS GUEST. 61 JEFFERSON'S RESPONSE WAS SIMPLE AND TO THE POINT. "I VALUE YOUR GOOD INTENTIONS HIGHLY. BUT IF YOU HAVE NO PLACE FOR AN AMERICAN FARMER, 62 YOU HAVE NO RIGHT GIVING HOSPITALITY TO THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES." IF WE ARE PUT IN POSITIONS OF LEADING OTHERS WE NEED TO NEVER FORGET THIS CONCEPT OF IMPARTIALITY. (PAUSE) 63 COLOSSIANS 4:1 MASTERS, GRANT TO YOUR SLAVES JUSTICE AND FAIRNESS, KNOWING THAT YOU TOO HAVE A MASTER IN HEAVEN. 64 HHC LEAD WITH JUSTICE PAUL IS SAYING HERE IS REVOLUTIONARY. PHILOSOPHERS OF GREECE AND THE LAWS OF ROME SAID SLAVES WERE PROPERTY. 65 BUT PROPERTY HAS NO RIGHTS. IT WOULD BE ABSURD TO TALK OF TREATING A PROPERTY WITH JUSTICE. PAUL PLACES THE RELATIONS OF THE EMPLOYER AND WORKER IN A DIFFERENT LIGHT. (PAUSE) 66 EMPLOYERS ARE NOT TO CHEAT WORKERS. THEY ARE TO GRANT WORKERS WHAT IS RIGHT AND FAIR THEY ARE TO DO THIS BECAUSE THEY BOTH SERVE UNDER GOD . 67 HHC LEADERS AND WORKERS ARE EQUAL UNDER GOD. CONDUCT AGAIN IS GUIDED OR MODIFIED BECAUSE GOD IS SOVEREIGN OVER ALL. THIS REFERENCE TO THE MASTERS’ MASTER MAKES THIS HHC UNIQUE 68 NO OTHER HCC OF THE ANCIENT WORLD DESCRIBES OF THE MASTER-SLAVE RELATIONSHIP IN THIS WAY. THE PASSAGE CLEARLY TEACHES THE EQUALITY AND DIGNITY OF ALL PERSONS. 69 MASTERS HAD A MASTER, AND SHOULD TREAT SLAVES WITH FAIRNESS AND JUSTICE. IF THOSE IN POSITIONS OF POWER LIVED THIS TRUTH 70 IT WOULD CHANGE SO MUCH IN THIS WORLD. IF GOD SEES FIT TO PUT US, AS CHRISTIANS IN POSITIONS OF AUTHORITY WE NEED TO STRIVE TO LEAD THIS WAY. 71 THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON, WAS TAKING THE LORD’S SUPPER AT HIS PARISH CHURCH. A VERY POOR OLD MAN WENT UP THE AISLE. REACHING THE COMMUNION TABLE, KNELT DOWN CLOSE BY THE SIDE OF THE DUKE. 72 SOMEONE CAME AND TOUCHED THE POOR MAN ON THE SHOULDER AND WHISPERED TO HIM TO MOVE FARTHER AWAY. HE WAS TO RISE AND WAIT UNTIL THE DUKE HAD RECEIVED THE BREAD AND WINE. 73 BUT THE EAGLE EYE AND THE QUICK EAR OF THE GREAT COMMANDER CAUGHT THE MEANING OF THAT TOUCH AND THAT WHISPER. HE CLASPED THE OLD MAN’S HAND AND HELD HIM TO PREVENT HIS RISING. (PAUSE) 74 IN A REVERENTIAL WHISPER, BUT MOST DISTINCTLY, SAID, “DO NOT MOVE: ALL ARE EQUAL HERE.” ANY CHRISTIAN IN LEADERSHIP NEEDS TO LIVE BY THAT LAST PHRASE; ALL ARE EQUAL HERE. 75 THE TRUTH IS WE ALL LIVE BY SOME STANDARD. WE SET OUR CLOCKS BY A SOMETHING. THE QUESTION IS WHAT STANDARD ARE WE SETTING OUR LIVES BY? (PAUSE) 76 THIS HHC CAN SEEM NEGATIVE TO US, EVEN OUTDATED. IN ITS DAY IT WAS STRIKINGLY POSITIVE. THREE GROUPS WITH CULTURAL CONTROL, HUSBANDS, PARENTS, AND MASTERS, 77 ARE GIVEN INSTRUCTION RIGHT ALONG WITH THOSE WITH NO POWER OR RIGHTS, WIVES, CHILDREN, AND SLAVES. WHAT A DIFFERENCE CHRIST MAKES. (PAUSE) 78 SOME PEOPLE SAY THIS CODE IS OUTDATED AND ONLY FOR THAT CULTURE. AS WE HAVE SEEN THIS HHC WAS NOT AT ALL LIKE THE CULTURE OF THAT DAY. 79 TO CLAIM THIS HHC DOES NOT APPLY TO OUR TIME IS TO MISUNDERSTAND GOD’S GOAL FOR THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. GOD’S GOAL FOR US IS NOT TO FIT IN, OR CLIMB THE SOCIAL LADDER, IT IS NOT TO BUILD WEALTH. 80 GOD’S GOAL FOR US IS TO BE MORE LIKE JESUS CHRIST. EVERYONE OF THESE COMMANDS IS SOMETHING CHRIST DID IN HIS LIFE. HE WAS SUBJECT TO THE FATHER. HE LOVED US SACRIFICIALLY. 81 HE OBEYED HIS FATHERS WILL. HE DID NOT EXASPERATE US WITH A BURDENSOME YOKE HE WORKED IN ALL HE DID IN SERVING THE ONE WHO SENT HIM. 82 HE TREATED EVERYONE WITH JUSTICE AND FAIRNESS. THIS CODE ONLY CALLS US TO LIVE A CHRIST-LIKE LIFE. IT IS HOW WE DO EVERYTHING IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS. 83 THE FIRST STEP IN LIVING A CHRIST-LIKE LIFE IS TRUSTING IN CHRIST. TRUSTING THAT HE CAME IN THE FORM OF A MAN, LIVED A SINLESS LIFE…. 84 85