DAY 6

MUTUAL SUBMISSION IN MARRIAGE

Main text: Eph.5:21-24.

Memory:

Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. (Eph. 5:22)

The scriptures make it absolutely clear that wives must submit to their husbands for the home to succeed. In submission lies the power of a woman in the home, because it is when you are submissive and not competing in authority with your husband that you bring out the best in him that will make your home to experience peace. Contemporary experiences have also shown that the nature of man demands that the woman submits to his headship as her husband if she wants to keep her home.

Whatever may be the position of the woman at her place of work, she must recognize and feel comfortable with the place of her husband as the head of the home. When a woman is not ready to submit to the headship of the husband in the home, it brings about a lot of challenges.

A close study of other relevant scriptures such as Eph.5:23-24 and 1Pet.3:1 also make the headship of the husband at home never to be in doubt as the wife is asked to be in subjection to her husband.

As we emphasize the issue of submission for women at home, we should also point to husbands what is written in Eph.5:21;

‘Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God’

This verse makes us to realize that we must all submit ourselves to each other in the fear of God. In other words, as children of God, all of us must learn to submit to each other.

I have therefore realized from the above verse and from experience that for a healthy relationship in the home, submission should be mutual. A close look at I Corinthians 13, reveals the best description of the characteristics of pure love.

Love suffers long and is kind;… love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;…bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.(1Cor.13:4-7)

In other words, despite the submission of a virtuous wife, a husband who loves his wife does not parade himself as the commander-in-chief of the home, he is not puffed up and he does not seek his own. Consequently, he respects the view of his wife and often have to take the advice of his wife which in other words may be looked at as another form of submission.

Submission in the home should therefore be mutual if you desire to have a successful marriage just as love should be mutual.

Discussion Points With Your Spouse

• As the wife, do you find it difficult to submit to your husband as the head of the home? If no, why?

• As the husband, is it a problem for you to accept the position of your wife if she proposes better idea on some issues in the home? If no why?

PRAYER

My father and God, I pray that the wisdom to mutually submit to each other you will release to us in Jesus’ name.

QUOTABLE QUOTE

IN MUTUAL SUBMISSION, THE WIFE SUBMITS TO THE HUSBAND AS THE HEAD OF THE HOME WHILE THE HUSBAND RESPECTS THE VIEWS OF THE WIFE. – Dr. Mike Oluniyi.

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