GODLY SUBMISSION

SUBMISSION 

Most people do just live without knowing what it means to submit. To whom are we to submit? What are the things that hold us back from being submissive?  How are we to submit in a Godly way and not out of our own understanding perhaps? This is a question we need to ponder upon and inquire of the Holy Spirit to grant us understanding. We may probably think that submission is majorly about a wife to her husband but submission cuts across the border. What really pulled me to writing on submission is the verse Hebrews 12:9," Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live?" It reminded me how my dad would instruct me to do something then with no complain or murmuring I’ll do it. Why then is it so hard when it comes to our Heavenly Father who despite being holy and powerful;  able to destroy the body and soul, still loves us so much and is full of grace. Submission, therefore, means yielding to a high authority. Let’s figure out using scripture what it’s all about.

Whom are we supposed to submit to? 

To the rulers and authorities

God requires of us to yield to the authorities He has chosen. This people may be leaders or people of higher ranking than us such as the president, the governors and all government officials, the vice chancellor, lectures, student leader, pastors, the cooks, cleaners and all the subordinate stuffs in an institution, the class representative, the bible study leaders, the choir director and the list goes on. It’s a call for us give them an easy time by being obedient.

Titus 3:1 .Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed,

Romans 13:1 .Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities for there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.

Hebrews 13:17. Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.

1 Peter 2:13-14. Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right.

1 Peter 2:18. Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable. Ephesians 6:5-8. Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ; not by way of eye service, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. With good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men.

Colossians 3:22-24. Slaves, in all things obey those who are your masters on earth, not with external service, as those who merely please men, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance it is the Lord Christ whom you serve.

What is the consequence of not submitting to the human rulers and authorities?

In Romans 13:2-7 says, therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good. If you do what is evil, then be afraid for the condemnation coming upon you.

Wives to husbands

It is God's will for us women to submit to our husbands. I'm referring to married women and not young women who are courting. From the interaction I’ve had with some of my female friends who haven’t given their lives fully to Christ Jesus I’ve discovered that it’s really hard for them to submit.  Reason being that at times us women are led by selfish desires. It is majorly about what we want and not what God wants for us. Hence, to just allow someone else who is not part of us like family to have a higher authority over us becomes a tall order. We will only be able to submit if we first submit to God. If we do not learn this early, then our marriages are bound to fail.

What exactly is the Godly requirement of submission?

Ephesians 5:22-24. Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.

1 Peter 3:1. In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives,

Colossians 3:18. Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

Lastly we are all called to die to self because if we don't, then agreeing to submit will prove difficult. May God help us to submit as we ought to for His glory and honor