How to Have Peace At Home and at Work

Read Ephesians 6:1-9

And now, we come to the last chapter of Ephesians. After instilling in the Ephesians the importance of submission and what that looks like for married couples, Paul continues to instruct these new Christians on how they should treat their children and their servants and how they should respond to those in authority over them.

Interestingly, Paul's underlying submission theme can still be seen in his instructions in three little words, "in the Lord." For it is in the Lord we abide, and through our reverence for Him, we submit to one another and learn to live in peace with each other.

For children, this meant obeying their parents, and it came with a promise from God "that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth." Their act of submission to the Lord was by obeying their parents. But there was an added warning from Paul when dealing with children. It is specifically addressed to the fathers, "Do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord."

In the pagan world of Paul's day, most men ruled their families with rigid and domineering authority. The feelings of wives and children were seldom considered. But Paul is showing them a new way to raise children. The word "admonition" is nouthesia in Greek and means "the training by word," whether of encouragement or, if necessary, by reproof, so Paul is showing the fathers the importance of being the spiritual head of the home. For it is through the Word of God that we find our peace. Putting God first above all in the home had a "trickle-down" effect. Women would submit to their husbands out of reverence for God, and children would obey their parents out of reverence for God. 

The same principle was put into practice for those with servants. Servants were to serve their masters as they would serve Christ, and masters were to do the same thing. The only exception is regarding a command that involves clear disobedience of God’s Word, as illustrated in Acts 4:19, 20.

In today's world, we are to serve our bosses (however disagreeable they may be) as we would serve Christ and vice-versa. Submission to each other "in the fear of the Lord" (reverence for God) is how peace within the body of Christ is established and the only way the church will survive in this turbulent world.

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.  - Colossians 3:15