Authentic Kingdom Culture - SubmissionSample

Who do we submit to?

To answer that question let us examine Colossians 3:18 – 4:1. This passage of scripture treats three types of relationships with regards to submission:

1. Husbands and wives.

2. Parents and children.

3. Masters and slaves. (We can reasonably substitute employers and employees in our context).

At first glance, this passage seems to be about those under authority submitting to those in authority. I am sure this is how many of us have been taught to apply this scripture but there is a deeper lesson here. It is actually about both parties submitting their will and preferences to God’s way.

Wives are encouraged to defer to their husbands’ lead rather than be oppositional or contentious while husbands are encouraged to be loving and gentle as opposed to being unloving, harsh, or domineering. Both parties are actually submitting their ways to Christ’s ways.

Likewise, children are encouraged to be obedient while fathers (we can assume this applies to mothers too) are encouraged not to be provoking or to brow-beat their children into discouragement. Again, the writer addresses both parties.

Finally, servants (employees) are encouraged to serve sincerely from the heart while masters (employers) are encouraged to treat their servants fairly. 

The overarching message is: 

· If you are in a position of authority do not use your power to dominate and exploit, use it to serve the best interests of those under you. 

· And if you are in a position under authority, you also have the power to make life difficult for those over you. Instead, be cooperative and seek their best interests.

The same message can be found in 1 Peter 5:1-5, except here, the relationship in focus is between elders and younger people in the church.

In all cases, God is calling both parties to look to the interests of others instead of their own interests. Godly submission does not only flow from the bottom up, it also flows from the top down. We all submit to one another.

Maybe you have been taught that submission is about governance and control but it’s really more about service and love.

Points to pray/journal:

· What are the pictures that come to mind when I think about submission? Is it two-way or one-way?

Declarations:

· Submission is an act of love and service that I am called to enter into regardless of my position in the family, church or workplace!