Submission and Godly Men

 

Ephesians 5:22-33

Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

23 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.

24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

27 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.

28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.

29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:

30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

When we think of submission we think of weakness but it is true strength.

Mary is gentle and submits entirely to God, yet she is the strongest woman who ever lived. She literally crushed satan under her foot.

But what is a godly man? 

What is the role if a man and where does his strength lie?

In other words, who is the man to whom a wife is to submit?

• Firstly. He loves his wife as Christ loves the church. Christ sacrificed Himself for His bride, the church. This is what a godly man must do; he must sacrifice himself for his bride, his wife. - Ephesians- 5:25-33

• He is to be joined to her, as one flesh. He is to protect and love her as he loves his own body. Ephesians- 5:25-33

• If healthy and able he is to provide for his family: 1 Timothy 5:8

• He is to be gentle with his wife. - Colossians  3:19

• He is to honour  his wife. - 1 Peter 3:7

• He is to help train his children yet never provoke them to anger. Hebrews 13:4. - Colossians 3:21

• He is to be good to the stranger, the exile and help support the poor, orphans and widows in the community. - Acts 10:2

• He is to commit himself both in body and mind to his wife and not indulge in any thoughts about another. - Matthew 5:28 - Malachi 2:14-16

• As he is to live her as his own body he is to take care of her in sickness.- Luke 6:21

• He is to respect her purity. - Tobit 8:4

   

A wife will often become a reflection of how her husband treats her.

Likewise, a man will often be able to fully grow into his godly role when his wife respects him.

In modern society, girls and boys aren’t being guided to grow into their beautiful, God given roles as women and men. Women and men have their own gifts and their own spiritual journey to take. Each path, though different is no less noble. 

Many men have been put down, humiliated, or taught a kind of machismo that is very far from true strength or Biblical manhood.

Many women have been treated harshly, demeaned or hurt by men in their lives. 

I Jesus never hurts or demeans, He comforts us and raises us up.

Jesus is the bridegroom of our souls. He will never forsake you. He will console you. He will protect and defend you. He will cover you and see the purity that the world has tried to strip from you.

Indeed, we can only ever be godly, women or men when we submit to God first.