by Pastor Afolabi Oladele

Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. 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. Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God; And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons. Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven. Colossians 3:18:1-4:1 (see also Ephesians 5:22-6:9)

The Covid-19 year has revealed much about the distress suffered in homes, between husbands and wives and between children and parents. The media, both local and international is awash with wife abuse, physically, emotionally and sexually and much of same is true for children. We must remind ourselves of those godly principles we are left with to have a peaceful home, that:

• The man is wired for respect, so treat him as a king giving him the honour in appropriate submission, and not unproductive arguments that nobody wins;
• The woman is wired for love, verbalized and empathetic understanding in every situation;
• Children must obey parents while
• Parents must show consideration, communicating as a necessity and avoid acts and statements that discourage the children.

Covid-19, that noisome pestilence, is far from being over hence the need to guard our loins to overcome the collateral damage inflicted at home and at work. Conduct at work should be guided by these two principles:

• The employee in every environment serves as though he served the Lord and not man. In the new normal of working from home, the greatest discipline derives from this understanding; and
• Every employer must be fair, firm but humane. In this time of economic pressure and challenged profitability, remember James 5:1-6.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ abide with you always. Amen.

Photo by Gus Moretta on Unsplash