Women, Be Good and Submissive
Sunday, June 29
Similarly, teach the older women to live in a way that honors God. They must not slander others or be heavy drinkers. Instead, they should teach others what is good. These older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and their children, to live wisely and be pure, to work in their homes, to do good, and to be submissive to their husbands. Then they will not bring shame on the word of God. (Titus 2:3-5)
The word “good” may modify “work in their homes” or stand alone. A young woman should be kind. She should do good. Simply said, she is to be like Jesus. She is to be gentle and considerate, gracious and merciful, even to those who may not treat her the same way. She is a “good woman” as the Bible defines good.
Then, she should be submissive to her husband. In keeping with what is said consistently throughout the New Testament (Ephesians 5:21-24; Colossians 3:18; 1 Peter 3:1-5), wives were encouraged to be “submissive to their husbands. Then they will not bring shame on the word of God.” Many women hate the word “submit.” For them, it means weakness. “It is only weak people who submit,” goes the saying. But such is not the biblical idea behind submission.
Submission means to yield in one’s will to the leadership and direction of another. It is more of an attitude than an action, though one’s attitude will certainly determine one’s actions. Contrary to popular misconceptions, there is no inferiority in submissiveness. We see this plainly in the Trinity, where Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all equally God, and yet for redemption, the Son submits in His assignment to the Father. Note also that a wife submits to her own husband, not every man. This charge is specific. Indeed, unless a husband asks his wife to do something unbiblical, illegal, immoral, or unethical, she is to follow his leadership. By doing this, she will honor God and His Word, and she will reach, in a more effective manner, the heart of her husband. Women who submit to their husbands honor the word of God. They don’t bring shame to God’s name.
Doing the Word
Live by the Book.
Prayer
Dear Father, help me to live and promote the kind of life that reflects wholesome and sound teaching according to Your Word. In Jesus’ name, Amen.