Title: Two Basic Principles of Co-working
Colossians (16) Two basic principles of co-working
(Colossians 3:18-19)
1. obedience
Since a couple is the most important minimum community, the principle of being a good couple is also the basic principle of creating a blessed community and being a good co-worker. To be a good co-worker, the first thing you need is a life of obedience (verse 18). “Submit!” means submit in English. In English, sub means ‘under’ and mit means ‘to be’. In other words, ‘to be below’ is obedience.
Obedience begins with biblical positioning. As the head of the family, the husband has the leadership and the right to bless the children (1 Corinthians 11:3). So, even if the wife thinks that the husband's argument is not the best option, but the next best option, if he happily follows the next best option, it is often a better choice. Success is given by 'God's providence' rather than 'human logic'. If you look closely, respecting your husband's authority through submission is in itself a blessing and a success.
Obedience in the home and in the church is the product of self-control following God's order. In other words, ‘obedience for others’ is not ‘obedience for others’. Therefore, since husbands also need submission, the apostle Paul told them to submit to one another out of reverence for Christ (Ephesians 5:21). Try to obey each other. A one-sided commanding and directing relationship inevitably leads to hurt, misfortune, and curses.
We need to learn to obey each other, and through that relationship, heaven will unfold. Why do human relationships deteriorate? Because they do not know how to obey, and they demand to obey. After all, submission is the secret to self-control for the best possible relationships. Also, obeying each other is the basic attitude of life that fills each other's shortcomings and forms a whole community. Those who have experienced heavenly home and church through such obedience become successful in interpersonal relationships, become the best person, and become the most recognized saint.
2. love
These days, many people confess their love without even knowing the meaning of love. What is love? Things that make you feel good or have good manners can be a small piece of love, but it is not love in itself. Love is giving yourself up like Jesus. Jesus gave his body, mind, time, and life for the salvation of mankind. Therefore, if you want to love truly, you must go to “giving up” like Jesus, not just “giving up” like the principle of meditation.
Marriage is a lifelong commitment of self-giving to make one another holy (Ephesians 5:26-27). Caring for children with love is a responsibility until the child reaches adulthood, but caring for a companion with love is a lifelong responsibility until death. In the end, it means that the responsibility of the spouse is more important than the responsibility of the parents. So pray every day. "God! Before claiming that I love many people, let me first love my companion first!”
How should you love your companion? 1 Peter 3:7 says this: “Husbands, dwell with your wives in the same way according to knowledge, and esteem her as a weaker vessel and as one who will also inherit the grace of life.” In this verse, “living together according to knowledge!” means “living with understanding!” No matter how close we are, if we continue to be together, we will see many weaknesses, and if we live together for a long time, sometimes we become tired. So understanding is required. In other words, you need to know your partner's eating habits, character, way of thinking, and values well.
Since you have become a companion, if you tell them to follow you unconditionally, they will not follow you. If you do not understand your partner well and live your life as you please, you may be abandoned as you would when you move in old age. The knowledge of a companion is second only to the knowledge of God. You can be happy without a degree, but you cannot be happy without the understanding of knowing your partner. The relationship is strengthened when we develop it into understanding by adding appreciation to that understanding.
Companion love is the starting point for making society healthy. One's love grows in the size of the other's devotion, and furthermore, that increased love develops into sharing with others. After all, companionship is the greatest source of healthy families, churches, and societies. Now weave happiness with ‘obedience and love’, the two keywords that make a good community. The secret of happiness lies in making pleasure in 'meaningful things to do' rather than doing 'fun things to do'.