In most societies, submission has a bad connotation. It brings up ideas of slavery or other forms of domination, which we see as bad. But submission is part of God’s order of things. First, we are told to submit to God. James 4:6-7a “But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: ‘God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’ Therefore submit to God.” If we are proud and follow our own way, God is against us. God knows what is best for us. If we humble ourselves and submit to God and His direction, He gives us His grace.
The greatest example of submission is Christ’s submission to God the Father. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed to not have to go to the cross. Luke 22:42 “Saying, ‘Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.’” Jesus submitted to His Father’s will and went to the cross. Philippians 2:5-11 “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Jesus was exalted by the Father because of His submission to the Father while here on earth.
As part of God’s order, wives are to submit to their husbands. Colossians 3:18 “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.” Children are to obey their parents. Colossians 3:20 “Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.” The younger are to submit to the elder. 1 Peter 5:5a “Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders.” Within the Christian family, we are to submit to those who rule over us. Hebrews 13:17 “Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.” Each of us is to submit to the authorities in our earthly government. Romans 13:1-2 “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.” Employees are to submit to their bosses. Employees are somewhat like servants of the first century. 1 Peter 2:18 “Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh.”
1 Corinthians 11:3 “But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.” We should get the picture that God has established a hierarchy in the world. Certain individuals are higher in the hierarchy than others: all of us submit to God; Christ submits to the Father; everyone submits to Christ; wives submit to husbands; children submit to their parents; younger submit to the elder; all submit to our Christian rulers; all submit to the earthly government authorities; employees submit to bosses. If we find ourselves lower in the hierarchy, we must submit to those over us because that is what God wants for His order to be properly maintained. This is important to God and should be important to us.
What does it mean to submit? It means to yield oneself to the authority or will of another. It means to defer to or consent to abide by the opinion or authority of another. It doesn’t mean that the one in authority is better, wiser or even correct in all of their decisions. It doesn’t mean that we are puppets with no will or opinion. But it does mean that when a decision or action must finally be made, we yield to the will of the one in authority.
But God’s plan for submission goes beyond our submission to those over us in authority. We are to submit to each other as peers. Ephesians 5:21 “Submitting to one another in the fear of God.” 1 Peter 5:5b “Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for ‘God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’” In being submissive to each other, we determine in our minds that we will let our fellow Christian have their way in matters of opinion. It is more important to show our love and consideration for each other than to insist that things be done our way. When we insist that things are done our way, it leads to conflict. When we submit to one another, we can have peace and harmony. Philippians 2:3-4 “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” When we submit to one another, it can demonstrate our love for each other and our humble spirit. God wants us to be loving and humble.
Submission has a condition. We should not submit to one another or to our authority when in so doing we are being asked to commit sin. Peter and the apostles were commanded by the Jewish council to stop teaching in the name of Jesus. But the apostles did not submit to the council in this matter. Acts 5:29 “But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: ‘We ought to obey God rather than men.’” The authority of God the Father is above all other authorities. When any authority or person asks us to disobey God, we must stand our ground and obey God rather than men.
Submission is a humble attitude of the heart. I encourage you to determine in your mind to be submissive as God desires you to be.