I am sure the favorite Bible scripture for married men is, “Wives, submit to your OWN husbands as you do to the Lord.” But if I should tell you that being submitted to, is no flattery, would you be shocked?

Being submitted to, is a big responsibility. Let’s break Ephesians 5 down again while we take note of some words. Instructions for Christian Households: Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, WITHOUT STAIN OR WRINKLE or any other blemish, but HOLY and BLAMELESS. IN THIS SAME WAY, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated their own body, but THEY FEED AND CARE FOR THEIR BODY, JUST AS CHRIST DOES THE CHURCH_ for we are members of his body. “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become ONE FLESH.” This is a profound mystery _ but I am talking about Christ and the church. However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband. [Ephesians 5:21-33 NIV]

Many husbands love this scripture; Ephesians 5:22.  However, their understanding of it is not what Ephesians 5:22 says, rather what Ephesians 5:33 says, “… the wife must respect her husband.” Many men are ready for respect, but don’t fully understand what it means to be “submitted to”. Being submitted to put you in a position like Christ over the church. What does Christ do for the church, and what does the church do for Christ? Are you ready for that revelations? What are the qualities of Christ that qualifies or makes him worthy of being the head of the church? Have you carried the cross about that yet to make you wear the crown of being submitted to?

Husband, your wife submitting to you, is her putting all of her under you: her purpose (under your watch and authority), her physical, emotional, and spiritual being. All of her, including her mental or intellectual being. Thus, even though she knows that what she thinks is right, she submits it to your authority. That is not flattery. That is a big responsibility. It means, “I trust you to make a better decision.” That is, you are the captain of the ship. Sail us to the promise land (even if we have to pass through the wilderness).

Being in the shoes of Moses is no flattery. You would have to endure disrespect, lies, hate, and still pursue the goal of the promise land. If you should stay in Christ, you would go to the promise land with them. But if you should descend into your feelings, and strike a rock instead of speaking to it, you would be buried in the wilderness.

Being submitted to is not flattery I tell you. Between Christ and the church, who is ‘more’? Christ died for the church. Christ washes and directs the church with the Word. Christ endures the dishonesty and unfaithfulness of the church. Christ knows better, Christ can be trusted.

Do you know why it is tough for women to submit to you men? It is because they don’t see you to be Christ-like. They can respect you I mean, but they can’t submit to you. Until you become Christ-like, it would be difficult for a woman to submit to you. And you may think, “Well, then I am not going to love her either.”  Well, you are wrong if you should think that way. Let’s look at what the scripture says, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.”  Ask yourself, “How did Christ love the church? How did Christ love you? Was it while you were perfect, and good, or was it while you were yet a sinner…Christ died and gave himself up for you?”

It is true that a woman can submit to you, but it is for your own good if you are worth submitting to. Thus, if you are more Christ-like. Think about it this way, would you be okay if you work in a company where you are more intelligent and wiser than your boss? Would you be okay being under him, or would you find your way out of that company, find a new job, or even create your own job? However you will feel is how a woman feels being under an “unChrist-like” husband. I know that you may say to the company example that you will submit your ideas to your boss. But what if he doesn’t listen? What if his ego tells him you are better than him, hence he fights you to put you down, or hinder you in your own progress? This is exactly what women feel being under you, men. Be worth submitting to: It is for your own good, and the betterment of generations. Being submitted to doesn’t make you a boss. It only makes you a responsible head.

“Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. … And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.” _ Ephesians 6:5, and 9.

As a husband, you are the head of your wife just as Christ is the head of the church. Does Christ oppress, threaten, or ill-treat the church, his body? No! He rather needs them, and makes it known that he needs them because he has put all power in the church so that they can make his will in heaven happen here on earth. Without the church, Christ can do nothing. He is kinda ‘disabled’ without the church. But unlike Christ, men make it seems that they don’t need their women, but it is only their women who need them. No! That is a wrong mindset. Actually, it was you, the man who was told it wasn’t good to be alone. I can defend that a woman can live life without a man, just that it wouldn’t be fulfilling. Nevertheless, it wouldn’t be short of happiness.

Man, humble yourself and see the wealth of treasure God has given you when he gave you Eve, your wife. Stop letting your money tell you otherwise. Money is temporal and passing, but God, and His Word is eternal. Which one will you trust?

Should a woman put herself under you, but doesn’t become better, it is your failure. It is like telling God, your example and head that it is okay for the church to submit to him, Christ¸ wholeheartedly and yet become worse off. What did the scripture say? It says, “…just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and TO PRESENT HER TO HIMSELF as a radiant church, WITHOUT STAIN OR WRINKLE or any other blemish, but HOLY and BLAMELESS.”  Your wife needn’t be “stain-free” before you love her. Actually, loving her, or your love for her is your fuel to help you make her holy by; cleansing her, washing her through the word, to present her to yourself. Your wife is your trophy. How she is 5 years down the line is your reward. People should look at your wife and see a holy wife without blemish or wrinkle. They should be able to see and say that you have made her better. They should see and testify that she has become more beautiful emotionally, mentally, physically, spiritually, and psychologically.

Don’t think putting your wife down makes you any better. Those who need to put others down in other to feel happy are those who are already down (defeated) themselves.

Love your wife. Present her to yourself without blemish. Look at her as the years passes by and say, “This is my doing, and it is marvelous in my eyes.” Don’t think saying this is prideful or anything. “Ye are gods.” Your head is Christ. Stay submitted to him, and your wife will feel bold enough to submit to you. As a Christian, would you bow to Baal? So why should your wife submit to you when you are not submitting to Christ but to your money, wealth and all carnal things? “Carnality is enmity to God.” I don’t think you want your wife to walk with you on the Hall of Hell. Like Elijah, your wife is there to warn you and watch you, King Ahab (husband) so that you don’t get lured by Jezebel (money and worldliness) so that you miss the way of God.

#Have a happy Submission

            #Enjoy your throne Oh King (husband)

                        #Make sure you are ALWAYS under (submitted) to Christ.

                                    #Being submitted to is a HUGE responsibility, not a luxury.

                                                #Your wife needs you under Christ.

                                                            AMEN.