Wives
The modern woman may not care too much for the holy scriptures of God, especially that scripture that speaks of being in subjection to your own husbands. Many modern women consider the word submissive and subjection to being antiquated and outdated and a put-down to women. And those that view that humbling attitude toward their own husbands do so only because they don’t know the deeper reason for this command or they deem it beneath them to come into such a humble position. Every wife should know that Christ was never against women, nor was He geared towards keeping women suppressed. Let’s read again what Peter would say to the wives:
“Wives, likewise, [be] submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they observe your chaste conduct [accompanied] by fear.“ I Peter 3:1-2
The apostle Paul practically said the same thing to those at the church at Ephesus and Colossae:
“Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.“ Ephesians 5:22-23
Being submissive to your own husband doesn’t mean a wife doesn’t have leadership and great ideas and visions to offer. It doesn’t mean to be an inactive partner in the marriage. The word “submission” was a Greek military term that had to do with placing military troops in an order under the commanding officer. Used in non-military life, the word would mean to have an attitude of agreement, cooperating, and carrying a burden. Let me say here also, not every wife struggles with the word submission or the attitude or actions that follow it. The reason some women don’t struggle with it is because they are married to godly men who adore them and care for their needs and have proven themselves to do everything in their wife’s and family’s best interest. I have told men this—that their wife would follow them to the other side of the world, if they would only treat them as Jesus would.
When a wife knows that her submission to her husband is really a submission “as to the Lord,” then her resistance to it is greatly reduced. When a wife knows that her submission is attractive and a way to win a non-believing husband to the Lord, then embracing that attitude is more likely. When a wife knows that she still has a significant voice and input into the marriage even while being submissive, then being submissive becomes easier. When a wife lives with a husband that lovingly communicates with her rather than makes demands of her, she gladly takes up her powerful role as being a submissive wife. God is glorified when the wife loves her husband so much to live in subjection to him.