God's Design for MenSample

Submissive Men

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit North America, it triggered lockdowns and restrictions that lasted on and off for years.

Part of what challenged every man was the issue of submission—when do you do what you’re told, when do you push back, what happens if you disagree with leaders, and on what grounds do you resist?

I’m not interested in revisiting those arguments other than to say that, 1) it was extremely challenging, and 2) submission is an issue many men struggle with.

At its core, submission doesn’t seem overly manly!

Submission to God is one thing—but what about today’s verses, where we’re told to submit to our political authorities? Or where we’re told to submit to our church leadership (Hebrews 13:17)? Or where we’re told to submit “to one another” in our church (Ephesians 5:21)?

In these cases, as long as a man agrees with whoever they’re submitting to, there’s no problem!

But in disagreement, a man’s submission truly gets tested.

There may indeed be times when submission proves impossible, because obedience to man would cause us to be in disobedience to God (Acts 5:17-32).

However, men can also be very good at using that as an excuse when they simply don’t like or don’t want to do what they’re being asked to.

Healthy submission acknowledges that God has created human leadership to keep order and ensure things run smoothly. A man’s submission to God’s created order is not contingent on whether he agrees with everything, but on whether he honors what God has placed over his life.

Jesus, the perfect Man, submitted to His mother’s word (Luke 2:51; John 2:1-11), the religious leader’s biblical teaching (but not their ungodly actions) (Matthew 23:2-3), the political leaders (Matthew 27:11-13), and of course, His heavenly Father’s will (John 14:31). Even as God Himself, Jesus models for us what submission looks like.

Men are at their best when they trust and pray for those God has placed over them, not because they are perfect or don’t make mistakes, but because God has appointed them.

God’s design for men is that we submit to God by submitting to those He has positioned over us, and obey them to the extent that obeying them does not cause us to disobey Christ. When men submit in a godly way, we walk in humility and contribute to things running smoothly, marking ourselves as men of peace.

Prayer: Father, thank You for those You have placed over me in my life. It is not always easy to submit, but I want to walk in Your ways. Grant me the grace to joyfully follow those You have set over me, and help me to make their job a joy for them and not a burden. Amen.

Reflection: Pick a leader in your life (spiritual, political, work, or otherwise) and send them a message today, sharing your appreciation for them and all they do.