What comes to mind when you think about the word "submit?" Does that word resonate with you positively, or does it resonate negatively? The world does not often like the idea of submission. After all, submission interrupts self-centeredness and leads to looking at the needs of others instead of our own. Although the world does not teach submission, Scripture does. Scripture calls followers of Christ to follow His example of submission, especially those who are married.
"Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ," Paul wrote in Ephesians 5:21. This calling was crystal clear. While this calling is clear, how to live out that calling may not be as clear to readers. After all, we do not use the word submit often. As we think about how to obey this calling from Scripture, it can be helpful to look at the definition of "submit." According to Dictionary.com, to submit means to "yield to the power or authority of another." In short, to submit means that believers are to live their lives looking out for the interest of others.
The calling to submit is particularly true in marriage. In a marriage, a husband and wife are to look out for each other out of their respect for God. This kind of submission requires both spouses to look out for each other's interests. Paul gives us a greater look at what it looks like to submit to one another in Romans 12:10. "Take delight in honoring each other," he writes. This means treating marriage, and all of our relationships, like a team sport rather than a solo sport. Husbands and wives are to look out for each other constantly.
When you consider your marriage or any relationship, do you find that you are "taking delight in showing honor," or are you fighting for your honor? My friend, when we stop seeking to get honor and start looking to give honor, all of our relationships will drastically change for the better. Our marriages will be happier, healthier, and stronger. Let's outdo one another in showing honor today.
Memorize Romans 12:10 today. Bring this verse to mind often. As you go throughout your day, look for ways to delight in showing honor to your spouse and all of the people you interact with. Ask God to help you as you seek to submit to others out of respect and honor to Him today.
1Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. 2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.
3 Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. 4 Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. 5 You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.
6 Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him. 7 Don’t participate in the things these people do. 8 For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! 9 For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.
10 Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. 11 Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. 12 It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. 13 But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, 14 for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said,
“Awake, O sleeper,
rise up from the dead,
and Christ will give you light.”
15 So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. 16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. 17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. 18 Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, 19 singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. 20 And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
21 And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
22 For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord. 23 For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church. 24 As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything.
