Today is…

a perfect day to reflect on the need for honor in marriage.

“Submit to one another out of reverence to Christ.”  Ephesians 5:21 NIV

For many people the word ‘submit’ carries with it negative connotations that convey images of one person being a doormat for another person. This simply does not have to be the case. To “submit” merely means to “yield.”

As Christians, we all know we should follow the examples of Christ. We all are aware that Christ submitted to the will of God. That fact in and of itself should remove some of the stigma that we may attach to the word. Submitting to God is something most of us have no problem with. Doing so, and knowing why we are doing it should help us understand that yielding – or subordinating our rights – to others is in keeping with God’s wishes, and nowhere is it more important than in a marriage.

Again, it is important to understand that this does not mean we give the other person carte blanche to walk all over us. Notice that Paul’s words are “submit to one another.” This means that two people joined in marriage should endeavor, on a daily basis, to honor God by always placing the other person before themselves.

Consider for a moment, the concept of a man or a woman placing their spouse on a pedestal, so to speak. This phrase refers to placing this person in a position of honor, respect and love and indicates a willingness to do all that is within their power to ensure that person’s happiness.

Of course, if the person on the pedestal doesn’t place their spouse on one as well, then he or she is always in a position of looking down on the other and this is not honoring God or the spouse and is not how God intends marriage to be. Both must place the other on a pedestal and do the things mentioned above, but do them so that they are then looking across at each other, eliminating the one-sidedness of one looking down on the other.

When two people have a strong relationship with Christ – and genuine love and concern for each other – bringing honor to the marriage should never present a problem. Submitting to each other demonstrates this love and concern and honors God. And when your marriage honors God, it stands to reason it is because you honor your marriage.

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Taken from “TODAY IS….A Gift From God”, (C) 2013 Tony Casson