By Riley Nelson Richmond Hill Church of Christ
In continuing our thoughts on the relevancy of God’s word, we need to see that Gods word gives purpose to this life and hope for the next. God has blessed us by giving us purpose in our life. We have the physical blessing – family, friends, work to do, etc. Yet we know there is a life beyond this one – eternity.
God’s word shows us how to truly enjoy this life and still prepare for the next.
He speaks of the family relationship Husband / Wife – “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself”(Eph 5:22- 28). If a couple will put God in their marriage they can and will have a happy life together.
God’s word also speaks of the family relationship concerning children. “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Eph 6: 1 – 4). The children at to be taught about God, by their daddy’s and mothers, not just by a Sunday school teacher who may see the child only forty-five minutes a week. Despite what today’s “child experts” may tell us, children need to have discipline in their lives. We have reared too many without this being a part of their live and our society is worse because of this mind set. Abusing children is a sin, but proper discipline has its place.
God’s word is relevant when talking about our work ethic. The apostle Paul wrote to servants ie, slaves who worked for their masters. He also gave instruction to the “masters” of those servants. He told them, “Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; Not with eye service, as men pleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free. And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him” (Eph 6:5 – 9).
God’s word is still relevant, just think how great the world would be if everyone would believe and obey God’s word.