Chapter 34

Common Relationships

Sections

1. Family Relationships
   1. Prologue: Getting Married
      • Issues in deciding whether to stay single or marry: General; . . .
      • . . . Forsaking marriage for God and Jesus Christ
      • Do not marry outside of God’s people – particularly as it can result in being led astray
      • A person should have only one spouse
      • Remarriage and adultery
      • Note: Finding a good wife is a great blessing – a gift from God . . .
      • . . . but a quarrelsome or ungodly wife is troublesome
   2. Spouses (I): General
      • A husband and wife should be as one, which involves sexual union
      • Husbands should love their wives
      • Wives should submit to their husbands
      • Do not commit adultery – which brings God’s judgment . . .
      • . . . Warnings against being enticed by an adulteress – which leads to ruin
      • Avoid divorce – it is contrary to God’s purposes
   3. Spouses (II): Romantic Love
      • The marvel of love
      • Spouses and their love belong exclusively to each other
      • Further insights on love
      • Examples and declarations of love
      • Adoration of lover’s beauty
      • Desire to give oneself to one’s lover
      • Further desire for and enjoyment of sexual intimacy with one’s lover
   4. Parents’ Duties to Children (I): Love and Care
      • Parents should love their children
      • Parents should have compassion on their children
      • Parents should care for their children
      • Parents should provide for their children
      • Parents should pray for their children
      • Note: Points on relating to children in general
   5. Parents’ Duties to Children (II): Godly Training
      • Parents should raise their children to live as God wants
      • Parents should discipline their children
      • Parents should teach their children about God and his deeds, inspiring them to obey God’s laws . . .
      • . . . Parents should promote faith in their children
      • Note: Godly parents bring great blessing to their children
   6. Children’s Duties to Parents
      • Children are to honor and respect their parents . . .
      • . . . Children should not dishonor or mistreat their parents
      • Likewise, all older people should be treated with respect
      • Children are to obey their parents
      • Children should heed their parents’ teaching – which brings great benefits
      • Children are to help their parents . . .
      • . . . One should assist any relative in need
      • Note: Children are a blessing to their parents from God . . .
      • . . . and children can bring their parents much joy

2. Civil Relationships
   1. Citizens’ Duties to Authorities
      • Citizens should submit to and obey the governing authorities . . .
      • . . . For the authorities have been established by God and they will punish wrongdoers
      • Citizens should defy any command that conflicts with God’s will
      • Citizens should honor authorities
      • Citizens should pray for authorities
   2. Authorities’ Duties to Citizens (I): General
      • Governing authorities should act and rule according to God’s law and ways
      • Authorities should rule as servants of God
      • Authorities should rule wisely . . .
      • . . . Authorities need to be wise
      • Note: Further traits that should characterize authorities
   3. Authorities’ Duties to Citizens (II): Justice
      • Authorities should rule justly
      • Authorities should defend the needy
      • Authorities should not rule unjustly . . .
      • . . . Unjust rule brings God’s judgment
      • Various insights on unjust rule
   4. Servants and Masters
      • Servants should obey, submit to and respect their masters
      • Servants should be faithful
      • Good service is rewarded
      • Masters must treat servants justly
      • Masters should pay servants their wages
      • Note: Miscellaneous instructions and insights regarding slaves

 ➜Major headings in: 34. Common Relationships (and all of Unit G)

Pray for persecuted Christians