I was reading a blog on what biblical submission in marriage looks like. I think there can be so much confusion regarding this because we all care so much about "our rights" and are all very temporally minded. The following analogy came to mind:
The different ways a woman displays her love toward the men in her life.
In Marriage:
If a wife feels that her husband is leading them towards a dangerous cliff and the wife truly believes that if he keeps taking them in that direction they will certainly face disaster if not death—she will make every effort to lovingly share her concerns with him. But, if after she has shared her concerns, he refuses to heed them; she will continue to stand by his side and is even willing to go over the cliff with him, because in her heart they have become one and she has abandoned herself to his care completely. When a man realizes this kind of love from a wife, he is much more likely to become a servant leader; understand the huge responsibility that he has been given; and lead with wisdom and love.
A woman who cannot abandon herself completely into her husbands care does not understand how to love a husband and should probably wait to marry until God has done a work in her heart. Marriage is not a democracy. A godly man will grow more godly when we allow him to take his God given role in a marriage. That may mean that you suffer the consequences of his less than wise decisions; but, life is not about comfort and rose gardens. Christ is your all-in-all, not your husband.
Toward a Brother:
I woman does not submit to a brother in this way. If a woman sees a brother headed for a dangerous cliff, she will not only warn him, but she will also kick and scream and even stand in his way with the hope of preventing him from disaster or death. If he refuses to listen, she will (with deep sorrow) step aside and allow him to go over the cliff alone.
A woman, who thinks she must submit herself to all men in the same way, does not understand how to love a brother.
The different ways a woman displays her love toward the men in her life.
In Marriage:
If a wife feels that her husband is leading them towards a dangerous cliff and the wife truly believes that if he keeps taking them in that direction they will certainly face disaster if not death—she will make every effort to lovingly share her concerns with him. But, if after she has shared her concerns, he refuses to heed them; she will continue to stand by his side and is even willing to go over the cliff with him, because in her heart they have become one and she has abandoned herself to his care completely. When a man realizes this kind of love from a wife, he is much more likely to become a servant leader; understand the huge responsibility that he has been given; and lead with wisdom and love.
A woman who cannot abandon herself completely into her husbands care does not understand how to love a husband and should probably wait to marry until God has done a work in her heart. Marriage is not a democracy. A godly man will grow more godly when we allow him to take his God given role in a marriage. That may mean that you suffer the consequences of his less than wise decisions; but, life is not about comfort and rose gardens. Christ is your all-in-all, not your husband.
Toward a Brother:
I woman does not submit to a brother in this way. If a woman sees a brother headed for a dangerous cliff, she will not only warn him, but she will also kick and scream and even stand in his way with the hope of preventing him from disaster or death. If he refuses to listen, she will (with deep sorrow) step aside and allow him to go over the cliff alone.
A woman, who thinks she must submit herself to all men in the same way, does not understand how to love a brother.
Comments
With love and prayers,
Mel