She Made The Choice

She’d had enough. Once again he would not listen to reason. She was sure that he was not making an informed decision. Yes, he had already purchased a couple of rent houses, and yes, they were making some money but he was not in the real estate business, he was just a company man. What if this went bad? How was her husband going to fix it? How was she going to make him follow her advice?

It had been this way for years. She pushed, he pulled and they were never happy. They would argue and fight which led to resentments and bitterness. They knew they needed to do things differently. They started going to church in hopes they would be able to find some help.

The elders would say, when asked, that they needed to get their life in line with God’s word. They kept pointing out Ephesians 5 and talking about submission to her husband and he being the head over her. Try as she might, she would never be able to submit to him. In fact, she would rather die than surrender.

As I ponder what it means to be subject to someone, I find that there is a lot of misconception regarding biblical subjection. We find this concept in Ephesians 5 where we, as Christians, are to be subject to each other and the wife is to be subject to her husband as unto the Lord.

The idea of being subject to an authority is constantly under attack. The world teaches that you should not be under anybody for any reason. “I am sufficient unto myself” seems to be the motto of the day. To the world, to be subject is to be subjugated in forced surrender whereas to God, to be subject is to voluntarily place your self under someone’s authority. I can force someone to surrender but I can’t force him or her to be subject to me. That is a voluntary action taken by someone else.

Luke 2:41-52 51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

When asked why he had worried his parents so, Jesus responded, “Why are you so worried, don’t you know I must be about my Father’s business?” Yet, he chose to go with them back to Nazareth “being subject to them”.

Christ shows us how this choice works. As a boy of 12, the Son of God knew He had the responsibility of saving the world and the authority to do that very thing. So here is the Son of God, the Messiah, in the body of a boy, being confronted by his parents about his causing them mental anguish at his disappearance. He could have given them his response and gone about the business of saving mankind, but he didn’t. The bible tells us that Jesus “went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them”. Here is the ultimate expression of subjection: Jesus, God on earth, voluntarily placing himself under the authority of his parents. He remained under their authority until the age of 30 when he began his ministry that led to his ultimate subjection to the will of God; His choosing to die on the cross.

Philippians 2:1-8 sums up subjection pretty well: “1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, 2 Fulfill ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

We are called to place ourselves under authorities in all areas of our lives. God tells us through his word that we, as Christians, are commanded to be under subjection. Wives are to be subject to their husbands, children are to be subject to their parents. We are supposed to be subject to the government authorities and religious authorities. This is not a punishment but a great help to us.

Luke 2:52 tells us that because Jesus was subject to his earthly parents, he “…increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.” We grow as individuals and incur the favor of God in following his design for our lives here on earth.

1 Peter 5:5-6 says, “5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”

It’s been 20 years now, and she and her husband are not only happy but also living together in a fulfilling relationship. She made the choice to submit to her husband and he learned to be the true head of their home. She says, regarding the process, “It isn’t easy, but it sure is worth it.”

To be subject to others helps us grow as humans, teaches us to humble ourselves as individuals, and allows us to grow in the grace of God. It is your choice.

ShawnMcCorkle