Leadership and Submission in Harmony
ICS Daily Devotions
Ephesians 5:22-24 (NKJV) Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Saviour of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.
Submission to the husband’s leadership is biblical, just as the marriage covenant is modelled after God’s covenant with the church. The wife’s willing submission is a picture of the church’s loving response to Christ’s leadership and sacrifice. There is protection for believers when we submit to Christ individually and collectively as a body of believers.
While submission suggests hierarchy, the word should not be seen as belittling or condescending. We should not feel uncomfortable with the term submission. Christians ought to view submission as a protection and a blessing for the soul. This is especially true of submitting to the Lordship of Christ, as it helps us avoid a lifetime of wrong. Similarly, submitting to the leadership of one’s husband can prevent a lot of unnecessary strife and bitterness.
The husband should take the leadership of unconditionally loving his wife, just as God loves us unconditionally. We willingly submit to the Lord because He loves us unconditionally, and we know that He has our best interests at heart. Likewise, the wives may rebel when there are only laws and instructions without the foundation of unconditional love.
Every organisation or body should always have only one head, or leader, to function effectively. Anything with two heads is called a monster because it is abnormal. A two-headed body will experience a lot of tension because there will always be differing opinions, directions, and visions. Therefore, the tendency is to head in different directions based on the decision made, and the whole body will be in schism or subjected to chaos. In the end, nothing is accomplished, but there will be anger, pain, resentment, bitterness, and a desire to lead separate lives.
God has appointed the husband as the head of the household with the support of the wife. Nonetheless, if the decision, investment, or practice clearly breaches biblical values and principles, it is non-negotiable. The wife should always be a blessing to the husband, having his best interests at heart because they are one flesh. Therefore, he should also consider her suggestions, opinions, thoughts, and deliberations because there is safety in counsel. They should spend time praying together over the decision, seeking God’s face regarding the matter at hand. However, the husband will make the final decision as the spiritual head after considering the wife’s opinions and suggestions. The wife should respect the spiritual authority and leadership by submitting even if the decision differs from her preference, because submission is only required when there are differences. That is leadership and submission working together in harmony.
Sermon Series: Blessed Wives, Blessed Lives
