Food for Thought –

Concerning Submission

     The idea of submission is not a popular idea today. We want to be our own boss, set our own schedule, do what we want to do when we want to do it. We recognize that we are not able to completely control our own lives, so we make concessions. We go to work when the boss wants us to be at work. If we choose not to, we will find ourselves looking for another boss.

     Submission is an old concept. It began in the Garden of Eden when God told Adam about that one tree that he was not to eat from. (Genesis 2:16,17) If Adam listened to the voice of God, and did what God commanded, he would have been submissive to the authority of God. But he didn't. People have been having trouble ever since then with submitting to the authority not only of God, but of others. David, the sweet psalmist of Israel, knew first hand what submission meant. Even though he had already been anointed by Samuel to succeed King Saul, David refused to raise a hand against Saul. He submitted himself to the office of king which Saul received from God. After David ascended the throne, one of his own sons, Absalom, rebelled against his father's rule, refusing to submit to him. His rebellion eventually cost him his life.

     In the New Testament, servants are taught to be submissive to their masters. (1 Peter 2:18) It did not matter if the master was good and kind or wicked and harsh, they were to submit themselves to the master. Because the servants were Christians, they were to submit. Wives are taught in the New Testament to submit themselves to their husbands. (Ephesians 5:21) For many people, this conjures up the idea of the wife being a slave. Such could hardly be further from the truth. The last part of that verse says her submission is to her husband as to the Lord. Christians are not "slaves" of Christ in the sense that we are property to be used or abused. Listen to Jesus: Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends, if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have call you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. (John 15:13-15) 

     A wife's submission to her husband is the same kind of submission she gives to her Lord, Jesus. It is a voluntary surrender to the leadership of another. She allows her husband to have the lead in the family, even as Christians have voluntarily surrendered to the leadership of Christ. It should be pointed out that in that same context in Ephesians 5, God instructs the husband to love his wife even as Christ love the church, and gave Himself up for her. (Ephesians 5:25) When someone loves me that much, it is easy to surrender to their leadership.

     For those who follow Christ, submission becomes their way of life. Because Christ loved us so much that He died on the cross for our sins, we know that He has only our best interests in mind. When His word calls upon me to do something, I know that it is in my best interest to do it. Therefore, I submit myself to His leadership.

     Have you submitted your life to the leadership of Christ? Have you voluntarily surrendered your will to His will?