Word@Work Eph69 - Ephesians 5:28-30
Published: Fri, 01/09/09
Word@Work from BeaconLight
INDIVISIBLE UNITY
Ephesians 5:28-30 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no-one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church - for we are members of his body. (NIV)
Individualism has been one of the cultural curses of the so-called civilised West. Of course, personal responsibility is an essential part of any relationship, especially with God, and this has encouraged both the entrepreneur and the maverick explorer (and also the pioneer missionary). But the idea that we are self sufficient to do it all on our own is false. It cannot work that way in any community or marriage.
Alas too many marriages, and Christian ones at that, have little to say about community, wholeness or organic unity. There may be mutually beneficial 'facilities sharing' but 'oneness' may not really happen. That is why we need to look at the way in which the Lord Jesus Christ considers his relationship with the Church. Astonishing as it may seem, He considers us, not just an extension of His mission, but a part of His body. We do not just 'belong' to him but we are incorporated into Him: just like a failing company that has been taken over by a global name. It is in His interests to ensure that all we need is provided for and that He does everything to encourage our devotion and love.
So it should be in marriage. The husband not only 'carries the can' but is responsible for the well-being of his wife, in the same way that he may provide for his own needs. The two are one. Likewise the Christian is indivisible from Christ. But why is this comment addressed to those in the workplace? Firstly because we are examining every verse of this letter (!); but significantly because many marriages are unwittingly ruined at work. Whatever your loyalty to your boss, you are (probably) not married to him/her. When cold economic winds blow to breathe fear of redundancy, and unpaid overtime becomes the unwritten rule - never forget those solemn vows to your spouse. At the end of your job, has your marriage grown or shrunk to fit the cracks that work has left behind?
Prayer: Father God. Thank you for the gift of marriage. Please help all my colleagues and me to keep a right perspective on all our responsibilities, especially our marriages. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
You can read the verses around this Bible passage from the Internet Bible: - in English, and Spanish
Individualism has been one of the cultural curses of the so-called civilised West. Of course, personal responsibility is an essential part of any relationship, especially with God, and this has encouraged both the entrepreneur and the maverick explorer (and also the pioneer missionary). But the idea that we are self sufficient to do it all on our own is false. It cannot work that way in any community or marriage.
Alas too many marriages, and Christian ones at that, have little to say about community, wholeness or organic unity. There may be mutually beneficial 'facilities sharing' but 'oneness' may not really happen. That is why we need to look at the way in which the Lord Jesus Christ considers his relationship with the Church. Astonishing as it may seem, He considers us, not just an extension of His mission, but a part of His body. We do not just 'belong' to him but we are incorporated into Him: just like a failing company that has been taken over by a global name. It is in His interests to ensure that all we need is provided for and that He does everything to encourage our devotion and love.
So it should be in marriage. The husband not only 'carries the can' but is responsible for the well-being of his wife, in the same way that he may provide for his own needs. The two are one. Likewise the Christian is indivisible from Christ. But why is this comment addressed to those in the workplace? Firstly because we are examining every verse of this letter (!); but significantly because many marriages are unwittingly ruined at work. Whatever your loyalty to your boss, you are (probably) not married to him/her. When cold economic winds blow to breathe fear of redundancy, and unpaid overtime becomes the unwritten rule - never forget those solemn vows to your spouse. At the end of your job, has your marriage grown or shrunk to fit the cracks that work has left behind?
Prayer: Father God. Thank you for the gift of marriage. Please help all my colleagues and me to keep a right perspective on all our responsibilities, especially our marriages. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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