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Ephesians 5:19-21 [Speak] to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God.
Whatever! —It sounds like I’m copping an attitude but nothing is further from the truth. Whatever! should be our response whenever God’s Word says to do something. Whatever You say, Lord.
This kind of submission doesn’t come naturally. We are all natural-born rebels with a built-in resistance to another person’s agenda. So when you can say, Whatever, Lord, that’s great evidence that God is changing you.
Submission of any variety has a terrible reputation. And biblical submission is often high-jacked by selfish, even cruel authoritarians who twist it for their own purposes.
Contrary to what many people think, submission is not just for women and children. Romans 13:1 clearly commands that “every person be subject to the governing authorities established by God.”
Ephesians 5:21 says, “Be submissive to one another in the fear of Christ.” Mutual submission is for both sexes, every age, social status, and employment relationship.
Submission comes down to choice. It’s not top down; it’s bottom up. If you’re in a role where you need to submit–that’s a choice God asks you to willingly make. Husbands are not to demand wives to submit. Pastors are not to demand that their people submit but both are to lovingly serve and give themselves to those they lead.
Are you in a situation where you’re being unfairly treated in the name of submission? God’s will is “that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men” (1 Peter 2:15). That word silence actually means “to muzzle.” You might love to muzzle some people. God’s all for it but you need do it His way–do right, trust God, wait on Him, and willingly submit as unto Him.
When we choose this attitude, we put ourselves under God’s protection. That’s a great place to live. But when you get out from under His umbrella and do it your way, you become very vulnerable. It’s only when you say Whatever, Lord, and submit to God-placed authority as unto the Lord that God’s blessings are yours in abundance.
© 2008 Walk in the Word
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