Power to Submit
This guy might have regretted trying to reclaim his status as “king of the castle”:
After reading a book called Man of the House during his commute home from work, the enlightened husband stormed into the house to confront his wife. Pointing his finger in her face, he said, “From now on, I want you to know that I am the man of this house, and my word is law. Tonight you are to prepare me a gourmet meal and a sumptuous dessert. Then, when I’m done eating, you’re going to draw me a bath so I can have a relaxing soak. And when I’m finished with my bath, guess who’s going to dress me and comb my hair?” His wife responded, “My guess is the funeral director.”
Have you noticed how challenged our culture is when it comes to the concept of biblical submission in relationships? It applies not only to marriage but to all our meaningful relationships. That challenge has a lot to do with an aversion to a basic concept of submission, tarnished by the secular world.
From a worldly perspective, we see submission as bowing down, putting ourselves in subjection to what might be the unreasonable control of another. We learn that others should not dominate us, so we bristle at the thought of submission.
That view of submission no doubt led one bride-to-be to request, in no uncertain terms, that I leave any reference to submission out of her wedding ceremony. Of course, she would have nothing to do with committing to “submit” to her groom! So, naturally, I had to include an enhanced lesson on the biblical view of submission as part of that couple’s marriage preparation!
But submission is not just for brides in marriage relationships. Husbands submit, too. In doing so, they don’t relinquish their position as the spiritual leader in the household. But Paul clarifies that submission is a choice for husbands when we love like Christ loved the church and “gave Himself up for her” (Ephesians 5:25). Giving your life for another is the ultimate act of submission and the ultimate act of love.
Submission is not a weakness. On the contrary, just as meekness or humility is strength under control, submission is willingly relinquishing one’s own will for the good of another person, circumstance, vision, or goal for the glory of God.
Submission does not mean inferiority any more than Christ is inferior to the Father. In the home, as in other situations, it has to do with authority, in the way Christ freely submitted to the Father’s will or authority. Christ was not being a doormat when He said, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will” (Matthew 26:39). He recognized that there would be chaos during His earthly ministry without the Father’s authority!
From the beginning, the primary sin leading to trouble for man is pride. Satan enticed the first humans with the idea that they could attain knowledge that would relieve them of their need to submit to God. “For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:5).
And they bit, literally. So, man has been trying to avoid submitting ever since, whether to God or any authority, voluntary or otherwise.
To help us with this genetic aversion to submission, the writers give inspired instruction concerning couples, kids, citizens, and employees on God’s perspective on submission in more than one place in Scripture. It doesn’t come naturally. The natural thing is not to submit to the right things and to submit to the wrong things. It happened in the garden, and it’s been happening ever since.
It takes focus and intentionality to submit to the right things, people, and authorities; it takes divine instruction. Jesus set the example. If you genuinely want to be like Jesus, learn the lesson of submission.
“And be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.”
─Ephesians 5:21