General Conference Bulletin, vol. 1
THE BOOK OF COLOSSIANS — NO. 11
J. H. DURLAND
SOCIAL RELATIONSHIP
BEFORE entering upon the advance study this morning, we will spend a few moments in considering some principal thoughts that we have considered in the preceding chapters. The keynote of the epistle is completeness in Christ. In the first chapter we had brought before us the hope of the gospel, and what it is to us. Divine strength is an active power working in us to keep us from sinning. This power is the active agent in redemption, which is really recreation. The work of the gospel minister is to preach the gospel in all its completeness, that he may “present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.” In the second chapter we learn further what this completeness in Christ really is. It means the giving up of every ordinance and tradition of man, and relying solely on Christ for sanctification and salvation. The third chapter gives practical instruction for the Christian life. GCB February 17, 1895, page 197.6
Now we will take up the thought where we left it yesterday. First, we are told to consider ourselves as dead. Next, we are risen with Christ, and so where are we to set our affections? — On things above. The flesh is to be mortified. Do we have the power to do that ourselves? — No. Divine strength must do that for us. Then we can put on the new man, and the result will be kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering, and a forgiving spirit. And what is it to forgive a man who has injured you. It is to take him back into your confidence, and treat him as you would one who had never done you any wrong. That is the way God forgives. He does not attach any conditions; he does not say, “I will try you for a month; I will forgive you that offense if you will not do it again.” Suppose a man wrongs me time after time, and then comes to me, says he is sorry for it, and asks me to forgive him. I say, I will forgive you if you will promise not to do the same thing again. Have I really forgiven him? — No, not until he dies, for at any time before that it is possible that he will do the same thing again. God deals with us in tender compassion, and when he forgives, he does it without reservation. Let us forgive in the same way. GCB February 17, 1895, page 197.7
Colossians 3:18, 19, treats of the relations of husband and wife. Among the heathen the marriage relation was not that which God intended it should be. The woman was regarded as inferior, and it was thought that she must be kept under. Notice how Paul deals with this matter, and see if there is not a lesson in it for us. He does not start out and say that such treatment of the woman is wrong, and she ought to assert her rights. No. What does he say? “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.” He begins with the party that is abused and downtrodden, and seeks to get it in the right condition before God. There is nothing said about rights; that is something the devil is always talking about. I thank God that we don’t need to say so much about our rights. Rather let us talk about our privileges in Christ Jesus. It is the privilege of every wife to be true to her husband and to God, it matters not what the circumstances may be. On this point I will now read from the Testimonies. GCB February 17, 1895, page 197.8
“A neglect on the part of woman to follow God’s plan in her creation, an effort to reach for important positions which he has not qualified her to fill, leaves vacant the position that she could fill to acceptance. In getting out of her sphere, she loses true womanly dignity and nobility. When God created Eve, he designed that she should possess neither inferiority nor superiority to the man, but that in all things she should be his equal. The holy pair were to have no interest independent of each other.” — Vol. 3, p.484. GCB February 17, 1895, page 198.1
Here we see God’s plan and purpose brought to view. Paul does not lay down any rule. He simply tries to lead the injured party to Christ to be taught of him. That is what we can do to-day. It is not for us to lay down specific rules for other people to follow; but we can lead them to Christ, and he will teach them all things, and do it much better than we can. GCB February 17, 1895, page 198.2
We cannot get the full force of the 18th verse without taking the nineteenth also, in which Paul addresses husbands. “Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.” The real meaning of the last part of the verse is not to embitter, not to lord it over the wife. When the husband follows this instruction, and the wife is submissive as enjoined in the preceding verse, then there is harmony in the home. GCB February 17, 1895, page 198.3
“Children obey your parents in all things for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Fathers provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.” Here we have instruction given in regard to the relation of children to parents, and parents to children. Notice that the apostle observes the same order, first addressing the weaker party, and exhorting it to submission; then admonishing the parent to be kind and considerate in the treatment of the children. To servants, the apostle addresses the following words: “Obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with your eye service, as men pleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: and whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.” They are exhorted to implicit obedience and faithful, conscientious work. They are to put their whole heart in their service, and in doing so, whom does the apostle say they are serving? — The Lord Christ. On the other hand, masters are addressed, “Give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.” GCB February 17, 1895, page 198.4
On all of these points the customs of that day were at variance with God’s plan, but Paul says nothing about them. He preaches the gospel to wife and husband, children and parents, servants and masters, and leaves the gospel to regulate the customs. Let us follow his example in our labors. Suppose I go to a place where slavery exists, and see masters abusing their slaves, how shall I go to work to help matters? Will it be best for me to come right out and say at once that it is all wrong, men have no right to enslave their fellowmen, etc.? No. If I follow the example of the apostle, I will teach the slaves to be submissive and faithful in all their work. I will teach the masters that they have a Master in heaven, and that they ought to deal with their servants as they would have their heavenly Master deal with them. When slaves and masters have both done this, then slavery exists no more. The same principle will apply in every case. Let us not trouble our minds about the customs, and try to fix them up; for in doing this we leave the gospel out, and the result is that the Spirit of the Lord cannot work upon hearts to make our efforts effectual, and they only get angry with us. But let us preach the gospel in all its purity and simplicity, and leave it to change the customs, and it will do it much quicker than we can ourselves. GCB February 17, 1895, page 198.5
“But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.” Colossians 3:25. Let the Lord deal with wrong doers. It is for you and me to seek to get every man to do right. If he will not do right, and is determined to do wrong, hand him over, and let the Lord deal with him. The Lord may use us in his work, but let us be sure that we do not go faster than he wants us to go. GCB February 17, 1895, page 198.6
After the apostle has given all this instruction to husbands and wives, parents and children, and masters and servants, he exhorts them all: “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving.” Colossians 4:2. Have you ever noticed how quickly difficulties may be vanished by praying? If there is difficulty in a church, let the members get together and pray about it, and it will vanish away like the mist before the rising sun. “Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.” Here the apostle begins to deal with those who are without. How can we walk in wisdom, and treat every sinner as he ought to be treated? Only by having our life in Christ, for then we are out of sight ourselves, and people see him in us. GCB February 17, 1895, page 198.7
“Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” Colossians 4:6. We will not talk much about this now, but leave you to think it over for yourselves. Peter says, “Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.” We are not told to give an answer to the man who does not ask, and yet that is what we are often most desirous to do. At least we try to get him to ask us about the Sabbath or some other doctrinal point, and then we are all ready to give an answer that will floor him. But if a man comes to us in a quiet way, and asks about our Christian hope, we sometimes think that does not amount to much; we wish he would ask us about the state of the dead, the Sabbath, etc. But brethren, let us be able to give a man that for which he asks. God may bring individuals in contact with us in order to impart light to them, but this he cannot do while we ourselves are in darkness. When a man comes to us with a longing in his heart to get a little deeper Christian experience, we ought to have for him something more than the theory of the truth; we should be to him like a spring of living water in a desert place. If we can talk to him in the spirit of the gospel, and bring him nearer to Christ, the Lord will open up the truth to his mind. That is much better than for us to argue with him. GCB February 17, 1895, page 198.8
Then the apostle goes on to talk about the different individuals who had his confidence, and were working in connection with him. It is interesting to notice what a large circle of friends and co-workers he had. They all seemed to be possessed of the same spirit as that which animated the apostle, and that is the Spirit of Christ. When that Spirit takes complete control of us, then it is none of self, and all of Christ. May this be our experience. If in this brief study of Colossians, our minds have been aroused to search deeper into the things of God, and know them in our daily lives as they are in all their reality, then our work has been a success. If it has simply led us to study the theory of the truth, the time has been lost. May the Spirit of God lead us to go down into the storehouse deeper and deeper each day, until we are among the purest jewels of truth. Let us take them for our own, and treasure them up in our hearts. And at last may we hear from the Master the words: “Well done, good and faithful servant; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” GCB February 17, 1895, page 199.1