Dale Ridge church of Christ

           Are you someone that has experienced trouble in some relationship?  Maybe you are experiencing difficulty on the job.  Or  maybe it’s in the home, or it’s with those in your spiritual family.  The inspired apostle Paul gives a general key that can help to open the door of success to almost any relationship—that key is mutual submission.

Submission is not a virtue that most Americans highly value.  It is often seen as a weakness and therefore does not fit the independent tough-minded characteristics which are needed to succeed in our society.  Submission though is not necessarily a sign of weakness.  It has been well observed, “In the world there is nothing more submissive and weak than water.  Yet, for attacking that which is hard and strong, nothing can surpass it.”

            The apostle Paul states, “Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God” (Eph. 5:21).  This is the general principle that Paul lays forth as he is about to tell us how to become stronger in our relationships.  Four specific relationships are covered:  1) the church’s relationship with Christ – Eph. 5:22-33; 2) the husband-wife relationship – Eph. 5:22-33; 3) the parent-child relationship – Eph. 6:1-4; and 4) employer-employee relationships – Eph. 6:5-9.  In each relationship case, there should be a “submitting yourselves one to another.” 

The Relation between Christ and His Church

In the first case, Christ has submitted and continues to submit to the church as He has given Himself for it (Ephesians 5:25; Philippians 2:5-7; Matthew 20:25-28; John 13:14) and as He nourishes and cherishes it (Ephesians 5:29).  In turn, we are to submit unto Christ our Lord in everything (Ephesians 5:23-24).  Paul had previously emphasized this attitude that is needed of every Christian as they endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:1-3).

The Husband-Wife Relationship

             In the husband-wife relationship, Paul says there is to be a mutual relationship.  Paul intertwines and parallels the nature of the relationship between Christ and His church with that of the husband-wife relationship.   Paul instructs that as the church is subject to Christ in everything , so a wife is to submit to her husband in everything (Ephesians 5:23-24), and she is to reverence him (Ephesians 5:33).  But is the husband to submit to his wife?  Many times, this is overlooked, but it should be understood that in reality, the husband is not only to submit to his wife, but his responsibility in submission is the greater of the two.  How does Paul say the husband is to submit to his wife?  The husband’s role of submission is to love his wife as (or to the extent) that Christ loved the church.  To what extent did Christ love the church?  Paul reminds us that Christ’s love for the church caused Him to give his life for the church (Ephesians 5:25).  Furthermore, the husband should nourish and cherish his wife as Christ does so to His church (Ephesians 5:27-29).

The Parent-Child Relationship

          The third area of mutual submission is the parent-child relationship (Eph. 6:1-4).  Paul says that children are to submit in that they are to obey their parents in the Lord.  The phrase “in the Lord” means that children should obey their parents as their parents lead them in the ways of the Lord.  Paul says that children will be blessed if they obey their parents in this manner (Ephesians 6:2-3).  Parents (Fathers, specifically) are to submit to their children in that they balance discipline with love in bringing up their children (Ephesians 6:4).

The Employer-Employee Relationship

             In this fourth area of mutual submission, Paul refers to the relationship between servants and masters (Eph. 6:5-9).  In the ancient Mediterranean world, a very high percentage of the population was made up of slaves and indentured servants.    In principle, we can view this as an employer-employee relationship.  How can this kind of relationship be beneficial for both parties?  Success on both sides can come through what Paul has been stressing in all these relationship scenarios—submitting to one another. 

Employees should submit to their employers in obedience to them “with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ” (Ephesians 6:5-6).  In so doing, Paul expresses that the servant, whether bond or free (or for our purposes, an employee), shall receive good in return (Ephesians 6:8).  On the other hand, masters (or employers) are like to submit in that they do not mistreat their servants (employees) – Ephesians 6:9. 

The life of Jesus demonstrates that this seemingly feeble attribute of submission can be one of the most powerful forces known to man.  By His humble submission to the will of the Father (Matthew 26:39) and to Calvary’s cross (Isaiah 53:7), we are thus drawn  to Him to follow in His steps (John 12:32; Hebrews 5:8-9).  May we follow His example and humbly submit to one another.

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Filed under: Devotional, Michael Carter on November 29th, 2008