As long as we live on this earth, we will have to navigate relationships with the people around us. The world teaches us to look out for ourselves, but Scripture teaches something different. Followers of Christ are called to put our own interests aside and consider the interests of others over our own interests. This is especially true in marriage relationships.
The apostle Paul issued a call for wives to submit to their husbands in Ephesians 5. In this passage of Scripture, He wrote, "Wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord" (verse 22). This passage of Scripture specifically calls wives to submit to their husbands, looking out for the interests of their husbands over their own interests. It calls wives to set aside their own concerns and look out for the concerns and needs of their husbands. Husbands and single people, this is a command for you, too. Remember that yesterday in our study, we saw that all believers are called to submit to each other and constantly seek the betterment of each other. After all, we are all working toward the same goal: knowing Christ and making Him known. When we submit to one another and seek each other’s well-being, we are stronger and represent the love of Christ.
How do we develop a mindset of submission? Philippians 2 gives us a beautiful picture of what it looks like to have an attitude of submission. It says, "Don't be selfish; don't try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don't look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too" (verses 3-4), When we consider others as better than we are, we naturally love and care for the people around us and are willing to sacrifice on their behalf. This is the example Jesus modeled for us.
Take a moment to examine your life. Do you have a mindset of submission, or are you more concerned with your needs? It is time today to develop a mindset of submission. Let's start looking out for the needs of others, like our spouses, our friends, and our family members, instead of focusing only on ourselves.
Choose today to model submission. As you go throughout your day, consider the needs of the people around you and look for opportunities to serve them. As you do this, you will follow Jesus’ example and point others to Him.
1Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? 2 Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.
3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.
5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
6 Though he was God,
he did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to.
7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
he took the humble position of a slave
and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
8 he humbled himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
and gave him the name above all other names,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
