Women Embracing Biblical Submission to Flourish in Christ
The Formation of Eve by. Gustav Dore
Submission: this is not a very popular topic among individuals today. Both men and women in society and in churches turn up their noses when they hear the word. This is not at all how submission should be viewed. It has been misunderstood and ignored within the church and society. Biblical submission must be taught appropriately so that the church and family can be led as God intends. To understand the correct meaning of submission we must look into the Word of God.
BIBLICAL SUPPORT
To begin, we will look at Ephesians 5:22-24. Wives submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. This verse instructs wives to be submissive to their husbands in all things. “All things” meaning all areas of life such as the discipline of the children, finances, how the home should be decorated, and even down to the meals that are cooked for their family. The wife must show interest and concern for the desires of her husband. She should obey her husband unless he asks her to sin.
This text also shows that the husband is responsible for how the home operates. Bearing ultimate responsibility does not mean that he makes every single decision or runs every detail of the home like an iron-fisted dictator. It does mean that he is held accountable and commanded by God to manage his home appropriately. A part of that managing is delegating tasks to you. In order for the husband to manage his household correctly, he must live out the role God has intended for Him. He must be the head of the home.
The words “be subject to” indicate that there is an order being described. God has sovereignly chosen for the wife to be underneath the husband so that there is peace and order within the home. This is not meant to belittle the wife. She is not inferior to her husband yet has a different position within the home. We must remember how God views us. Galatians 3:28 says, “there is neither male nor female; for you are all in Christ Jesus.” God does not favor one gender over the other. He has created both male and female with unique abilities, callings, and gifts so that together they reveal His glory better than either could alone.
So, you might ask, “What exactly is the reasoning for submission?”, or “What exactly is its importance?” One reason is to show the redemptive plan of Christ within the functioning of the family. Christ sacrificed Himself to the will of the Father to carry out God’s redemptive plan. Just as the Son became a servant and humbled Himself, so the wife submits herself to her husband so that God’s plan for the family can be carried out. Genesis 2:18 says, “Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” The wife was created by God to be a helper to the man. The woman was not created to rule over the man, or to make all the decisions within the home. She was created to be a helper.
CONFORMING OURSELVES TO HIS WORD
Changing and becoming a submissive wife can be very difficult. This change requires swallowing your pride and humbly following the family structure God has designed. Here are some biblical recommendations to help you become a more submissive spouse.
First, learn to communicate with your spouse. This will take much practice and prayer, but by God’s grace, He can help a wife become gentle and loving in her responses to her husband.
Ephesians 4:29 states, “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” Wives must be gracious to their husbands, always building them up with their words instead of tearing them down.
Secondly, a wife should learn to praise her husband and treat him as she would want to be treated regardless of his actions. A wife can begin putting this into practice by praying for her husband daily and humbly admitting her faults. As a source of encouragement for your husband let him know you treasure his leadership in the home. Through prayer, humility, and encouragement a wife will imitate Christ.
Lastly, a wife must look to the Word of God to train herself to become biblically submissive. 1 Timothy 4:7-8 instructs us on training ourselves to be biblical women. These verses say, “Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.” We must learn how to respond to every situation in our lives in a godly way. We must train ourselves to view each situation as God would have us view it. We must be humble in our responses.
SUMMARY
Generally, biblical submission is not the lifestyle that a wife would desire in modern times. It is much easier for her to choose her own selfish desires. However, our primary motivation in life should always be to bring glory to God. A wife can never glorify God as she is called to unless she humbles herself and joyfully comes underneath the authority of her husband. Will you allow the Lord to lead you and your family today? Will you humble yourself and allow your husband to lead your home? I hope for the sake of your family and the church that you will begin to look to Christ and follow Him and His commands rather than your own.
