Practical Application of Spirituality

Colossians 3:16-4:1

While working toward my math degree, I met a young man who seemed almost a genius at math theory. In calculus and differential equations, he could find derivatives and integrate equations the rest of us had to look up solutions to. In advanced physics, he was able to follow the derivation of equations easily. Unfortunately, he did not have the same understanding of using actual numbers.

He understood that a symbol represented a specific quantity, but did not seem to understand what the quantity was. It seemed like he understood that 21 was read as twenty one, but had no idea how many twenty one is. As a result, he could consistently manipulate symbols such as 6A and 2B, but could not plug in numerical values for A and B to find the value of the equation. It was frustrating being assigned to work with him, because he was never able to apply the theory to actual problems. We began to suspect his understanding was not of the math itself, but of rules for manipulating symbols. His skill in math theory was of little practical value in daily life. Daily life required applying the theory to a specific situation, using real values. The rest of us learned to move from the theory to the application.

Like math, Christianity is a very practical business. Without the theory, one will be unable to successfully arrive at correct solutions. Without understanding how the theory applies to real life situations, one will never be able to use the theory properly. The author now begins to present specific situations as examples of exercising spiritual attitudes and actions.

Colossians 3:16 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.“ By allowing the word of God to permeate our thinking, meditating on it, we will become like Christ in our attitude according to II Corinthians 3:18. As the Holy Spirit fills us, we will find ourselves sharing with others and rejoicing in Christ. “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;” (Ephesians 5:18-19)

Colossians 3:17 “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” Recognize that Christ is all in all and as I Corinthians 3:22-23 says, “Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.”

Colossians 3:18 “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.” The idea here is of equals, in meekness, not demanding ones own way. It is to be out of a respectful attitude, as Ephesians 5:33b says, “Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.” To do so as fit in the Lord clearly indicates she is not to give him God’s place, in worshipping or idolizing him. Christ still has first place, and her primary responsibility is to him. Her responsibility is to keep her relationship in perspective.

Colossians 3:19 “Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.” Husbands are to love their wives. It is a command. We choose to obey. Ephesians 5:25 commands, “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.” Christ’s love is our example of love. Not demanding or selfish, and not angry when they fail to do as desired. Christ allows us a great deal of freedom, and Proverbs 31 demonstrates a Godly wife exercising such freedom.

Colossians 3:20 “Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.” Because of their lack of experience children need their parents guidance. They don’t know how to decide what is good or bad for them. God put the parents there to teach them how to make good decisions, and to protect them until they learn.

Colossians 3:21 “Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.” Parents need to understand that they are responsible for teaching the children, Refusing to allow them to make decisions they are prepared for is very discouraging, especially when it is solely for the purpose of demonstrating control. Ephesians 6:4 instructs, “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” Again, parents are to follow Christ’s example in training their children, guiding, correcting, and encouraging them, giving appropriate freedom.

Colossians 3:22 “Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: “ Servants could be either employees or slaves. Slavery is prohibited in our day, but most of us are employees. Christian employees should demonstrate a respectful and cooperative attitude. This same attitude is to be present whether the employer is a Christian or not.

I Timothy 6:1-2 commands, “Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed. And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.” While Titus 2:9-10 directs, “Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; Not purloining, but showing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.” Our behavior at work will affect people’s attitude toward God.

Colossians 3:23-25 “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.” We are servants of God, and are accountable to him. We will be rewarded or punished according to what we have done, according to I Corinthians 3 and should keep that in mind.
Colossians 2:16-18 warns of danger in allowing others to set the standards or dominate us. “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,”

As we are warned in Galatians, If we are busy pleasing men, we are no longer serving God. “For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.” (Galatians 1:10) Our obedience to parents, husbands, employers, and church leaders is subject to obedience to Christ. We cannot push our responsibility on them.

Colossians 4:1 “Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.” It is especially important that employers and those in authority remember that they are accountable to God for a greater level of responsibility. Misuse or abuse of authority will be severely judged, as James 3:1 warns. “My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.”