Submitting To One Another In Love

by Paul McGuire

God made man and woman different. He gave us different roles and strengths, abilities and responsibilities. Ever since the fall of Man, however, there has been a battle for superiority. By God’s design, the man was assigned the role of headship. This headship has been misinterpreted as “dominance” by both genders. We might say that the husband’s role is one of “pivotal” responsibility: he is responsible both to God and for his family. By this design, the wife and children gain protection and safety. Submission both to God and to each other makes His plan work. Submission to God’s plans, however, is the oldest battle known to Man! When sin rears its ugly head, each gender vies for dominance.

But the role of headship is certainly not one of dominance and not always one of leadership. Leadership will shift between a husband and wife wherever one may express a greater ability. God looks to the husband to take responsibility for his wife and children, not to be the leader in every area of life. In my family, for example, my wife exhibits the spiritual gift of administration and is the better organizer. Each of us will be better at one thing than the other. And by mutual honoring of that different gifting we exhibit and by “submitting to one another in Love,” we can come to operate like a proverbial “well-oiled machine.”

The Apostle Paul compared the Body of Christ to a human body, “having many parts.” And so it is with our families: specifically, the husband and wife. He pointed out how each limb and organ has its specific task and is not able perform the function of a different part of the body. For

us as couples, Paul noted, “Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for her…wives, see that you respect your husbands.” In our bodies, when the various parts don’t function as God designed, we have great difficulty living! But when everything is functioning as designed, we are considered healthy. And in our families, this health comes by practicing mutual submission.

So, Sweethearts, let’s seek to work out God’s design of mutual submission to each other. “And further, submit to one another out of reference for Christ.” Honor, respect, and treasure your mate. Work together. In God’s plan for us, there is never any need for domineering. God’s design is best.

(Please read the Apostle Paul’s thoughts in Ephesians 5:21-30).

About The Author

Paul McGuire has been born again for almost 60 years, and has pursued to hear God’s Voice through all those years. He and his wife Teresa of 45+ years are active at Living Word Church in Cleveland, Tennessee. They have two children and four-and-counting grandchildren.

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