Colossians, Day 5
Colossians 3:1 – 4:6
Avoiding the Religious Wardrobe Malfunction
If you’ve been on many websites, you’ve probably seen those annoying ads at the bottom of some pages that advertise the equivalent of Barnum and Bailey freak shows. “The scene that took My Mother the Car off the air!” “What does Gary Coleman look like now?” “Wardrobe malfunctions that make Happy Days look like Woodstock!” There is always one that has to do with some weird, supposedly provocative costume catastrophe. Of course, when you click on one of them, you are subjected to enough ads to make you swear off computers forever (At least that’s what I’m told).
A wardrobe malfunction is when something is revealed that you don’t want to be exposed. In Colossians Chapter 2, the apostle Paul condemns empty religious rituals and ostentatious outward religious appearances. They may attract the attention of unspiritual observers, but God overlooks them as cheesy advertisements for false spirituality.
According to Paul, “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory” (Colossians 3:1 – 4). Because believers are new heavenly beings, we are to live as Christ lives. The glories we pursue on Earth lead only to the wrath of God (3:6). Outward ways and appearances are meaningless — we are all equal in the image of God in Christ, in one new body. We all look alike to God (3:10 – 11). The glory awaiting the true Christian outshines any Miuccia Prada design you can rent.
The following verses are Paul’s prescription to keep the body healthy — in heart (3:12 – 15), mouth (3:16), and hands (3:17). These changes begin when, at the time we are saved, we “put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator (3:9 – 10).
Once we begin the path to personal spiritual health, we have other responsibilities as well — practicing healthy habits in the home, workplace, and ministry.
Healthy practices in the home include a proper husband-wife relationship, with the wife submitting to her husband and the husband loving the wife with understanding and kindness (3:18 – 19). A healthy parent-child bond is strengthened when children obey their parents in everything (Wow!), for this pleases the Lord in Whose image we are clothed (3:20). Again, perhaps because men can be a bit less gentle at times, fathers are exhorted to not discourage their children with criticism and other harsh attitudes (3:21).
A healthy workplace is fostered by the diligent labor of the Christian worker (3:22 – 4:1). It may be easy to goof off when the boss isn’t looking, but the Lord is the true master Whose reward is fairly based on the attitude and labor of the employee. This same master has His eye on the employer as well.
Finally, as our healthy influence spreads out from the family to the workplace, it ripples out to the church and then the world (4:2 – 6). Pray for the preachers so they may speak freely at every opportunity (4:2 – 4). When confronted by unbelievers, we must be ready to graciously present the gospel and defend the faith in ways they can understand.
If you’re wearing the armor of God (Ephesians 6) and not your own religious garments, you never have to worry about a spiritual wardrobe malfunction!
Alan Allegra