A wife really has little difficulty in submitting to a husband who loves her. She knows that he seeks the very best for her and that he will not do anything to harm her. The husband’s love for his wife is seen in his sacrifice for her and the wife’s love for her husband is seen in her submission to him. Where there are sacrifice and submission in an atmosphere of love, you will find a happy home. A happy marriage does not come automatically. It is something that must be worked at all the time. We get the power to love and to submit from the Lord. If we have our hearts filled with the peace of Christ and the Word of Christ, then we will contribute to the joy and harmony of the home. If we live to please Christ first, others second, and ourselves last, we will build strong marriages and spiritual homes.
Children and fathers: (3:20-21):
Apostle advises the children to show esteem and think honourably of their parents. They must show obedience towards the fathers. This is a requirement and commandment of God. In (Eph. 6:2,3), Paul says: “honour your father and mother which is the first commandment with a promise, that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”
Dutiful children are the most likely to prosper in the world and enjoy long life. And parents must be tender, as well as children must be obedient. “Fathers, do not embitter your children or they will become discouraged” (3:21). Do not show your authority over them with rigour and severity, but with kindness and gentleness. Do not hold the reins too tight to make them fly out with greater fierceness. The bad temper and example of imprudent parents often prove a great hindrance to their children and a stumbling-block in their way. Again in (Eph. 6:4) Paul says “Fathers do not exasperate your children; instead bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” And it is by the tenderness of parents, and dutifulness of children, that God furnishes his church with a seed to serve Him, and propagate the gospel from age to age.
Servants (slaves) and masters: (3:22- 4:1): Paul does not condemn or condone slavery here. But in his letter to Philemon, he clearly says Philemon to treat his slave Onesimus as a brother, thus bringing a profound relation between slaves and masters.
Servants are told to do work in the situation where they stand and obey their master’s commands in all things which are consistent as if they are performing their duty to God. They should not do eye-service as men-pleasers but thinking that they are under Heavenly master. They must do their duty with just and diligence in singleness of heart, fearing God, without selfish designs, or hypocrisy or disguise. It is true that servants who fear God will be just and faithful because they know that they are under the eye of God.
Nehemiah although he was a governor of Judah under the Persian Empire, had great fear of God and in every matter of governance; he was faithful to God and discharged his duties with diligence. He stood as one of the great leaders to build the wall of Jerusalem in 52-days (Neh.5:5ff). We are really doing our duty to God when we are faithful in our duty to men. A good and faithful servant is never too far from God. Whatever we do, think that the Lord is aware of it and do it diligently and faithfully. The Lord has reserved an inheritance as a reward because we are in fact serving God. The Lord will give us insight into this. We have a righteous God. If anyone does wrong, the Lord will punish us. The righteous Judge of the earth will be impartial and carry it with an equal hand towards the master and servant. He is not swayed by any kind of men’s outward circumstances and condition of life.
Again Paul says: if the master and servant belong to a Christian and a heathen, there is a rule bound to them in the fulfilment of duties. If their duties are contrary or disregarding the Heavenly Father, the slave or the master can defy his duties.
We can see even in the life of Daniel and his friends, they have lovingly rejected the food offered them. They defied vehemently when commanded to worship the idol. “Each man, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation God called him to” (Eph.7:23). It would be a great and wonderful day, when the Gospel penetrates into all the world and every person discharges his own duties glorifying God.
Further Paul admonished the Christian masters to treat their servants with fairness and honesty. This would be a new idea to Roman masters because they considered their slaves as “things,” and not people. Masters had almost total control over their slaves and could do with them whatever they pleased. It is worth noting that few unsaved Roman masters even thought of treating their slaves with fairness, although their slaves deserved nothing. It is a lesson for present situation that employers should pay fair wages and treat their employees justly. They should not abuse them but have responsibility over them. Yes all of us accountable to our Master in Heaven.