Compiled By: Lisa K Gonzales
Source: The Life Application Study Bible
5 “That is the way the holy women of old made themselves beautiful. They trusted GOD and accepted the authority of their husbands. 6 For instance, Sarah obeyed her husband, Abraham, when she called him her master. You are her daughters when you do what is right without fear of what your husbands might do. 7 In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat her with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in GOD’s gift of new life. If you do not treat her as you should, your prayers will not be heard.” ~ 1 Peter 3:5-7
To be submissive to another’s authority means to cooperate voluntarily out of love and respect for GOD and for that person. Ideally, submission is mutual: – “And further, you will submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” – Ephesians 5:21 – Submitting to another person is an often misunderstood concept. It does not mean becoming a doormat. Christ – at whose name “every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth” (Philippians 2:10) submitted His will to the Father, and we honor Christ by following His example. When we submit to GOD, we become more willing to obey HIS command to submit to others, that is, to subordinate our rights to theirs. In a marriage relationship, both husband and wife are called to submit. For the wife, this means willingly following her husband’s leadership in Christ. For the husband, it means putting aside his own interests in order to care for his wife. Submission is rarely a problem in homes where both partners have a strong relationship with Christ and where each is concerned for the happiness of the other. However, even when it is one-sided, the expression of submission can be an effective Christian strategy. Jesus Christ submitted to death so that we could be saved; we may sometimes have to submit to unpleasant circumstances so that others will see Christ in us. Christian submission never requires us to disobey GOD or to participate in what our conscience forbids. One-sided submission requires tremendous strength. We could not do it without the power of the Holy Spirit working in us.
When Peter calls women the “weaker” partners, he does not imply moral or intellectual inferiority but is recognizing women’s physical limitations. Women in his day, if unprotected by men, were vulnerable to attack, abuse, and financial disaster. Women’s lives may be easier today, but women are still vulnerable to criminal attack and family abuse. And in spite of increased opportunities in the workplace, many women still earn less than men, and the vast majority of the nations’ poor are single mothers and their children. A man who honors his wife as a member of the weaker sex will protect, respect, help, and stay with her. He will not expect her to work full-time outside the home and full-time at home; he will lighten her load wherever he can. He will be sensitive to her needs, and he will relate to her with courtesy, consideration, insight and tact.
If a man is not considerate and respectful of his wife, his prayers will not be heard, because a loving relationship with GOD depends on right relationships with others. Jesus said that if you have a problem with a fellow believer, you must make it right with that person before coming to worship. – 23 “So if you are standing before the alter in the Temple, offering a sacrifice to GOD, and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, 24 leave your sacrifice there beside the alter. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to GOD.” – Matthew 5:23-24 – Broken relationships can hinder our relationship with GOD. If we have a problem or grievance with a friend, we should resolve the problem as soon as possible. We are hypocrites if we claim to love GOD while we hate others. Our attitudes toward others reflect our relationship with GOD. This principle carries over into family relationships. If men use their position to mistreat their wives, their prayers will not be heard – plain and simple. The real test of our love for GOD is how we treat the people right in front of us – our family members and fellow believers. We cannot truly love GOD while neglecting to love those who are created in HIS image.
Father, submission is an often a misunderstood concept. Many people abuse this command and mistreat their partners, family, friends, fellow believers, and co-workers. Father GOD help us to understand that submission is not about ruling over another person, it is a biblical command that puts relationships in right and good standing with YOU. Just as Jesus Christ submitted to death so that we could be saved, we may sometimes have to submit to unpleasant circumstances so that others will see Christ in us. Help us LORD, to always remember that Christian submission never requires us to disobey YOU or to participate in what our conscience forbids.
Photo: Washington, D.C.
Photographer: Lisa K Gonzales
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