ONE TO ANOTHER

“Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.”
(Ephesians 5:21-28 KJV)

It seems most difficult to get folks to see the relationship between husband and wife is a picture or reflection of the relationship of Christ and His Bride. One lady even told me, "He (her husband) is not Jesus and when he becomes Jesus I will submit to him." I am afraid she missed the whole meaning of the Scripture. We are commanded to submit ourselves "one to another" and this is not an option or contingent upon the actions or responses of other. Husbands are to love their wives whether they submit to them or not. Wives are to submit to the authority of the husband whether the husband loves them as he should or not.

Some few years ago, I had been preaching on the subjects of stewardship, tithing and support of missions. During the series of messages one of our ladies approached me with a burden she had to give to missions each week. She and her husband had separate jobs and incomes. I told her that before she made a pledge to give to faith promise missions she should discuss it with her husband and get his permission. She was married to a lost man who had at that time and still today has no interest in spiritual things or the salvation of others. Her response to my statement was, "Oh, he won't care." I told her, regardless of his lack of concern, she should still get his approval. She was then concerned that he would disapprove. "Well," I said, "if he does not care as you say, and this is a true burden from God, then he will approve and you will have obeyed the Scripture." So she took the matter to him and he told her it would be fine. Now she can say with a completely clear conscience she has obeyed God in those matters.

I know a preacher, of all people, who took his wife and children on the road of evangelism. He allowed a pastor friend to speak critically about his wife to him. The evangelist's reaction was to scold his wife for not being submissive. It was not long until the devil was able to put a pry-bar between them and tear up a home and destroy a ministry. What should he have done? Stand up for his wife. But he was more concerned about being embarrassed in front of his friend, or losing a meeting in a church than showing true love to the wife of his youth and the mother of his children. By the way, last I heard, that pastor is no longer pastoring.

There is a Christian lady who takes a lot of pride in her house. She has put a lot of work into getting just the right decor and furniture to make the house a show place as far as is within their means. But she has made her house just for her. The husband has obviously been excluded from the house. There is hardly any trace of his presence. So, he has made his home in the garage or yard or barn. She has forgotten that he is suppose to live in the house with her and he has forgotten that he needs to spend time with her.

No man is Christ, but we are to endeavor to be like Him. No woman is the church, but she is to submit with the attitude of the church submitted to Christ. God's word really works and when it is applied to our lives we find a joy that comes no other way.