submitting

Today in the One Year Bible, we come across a controversial verse in Colossians 3:18-4:18. Paul says that wives should submit to their husbands. Which sounds kind of foreign to modern ears, doesn't it? Sounds all patriarchal and not in tune with modern women's rights? Well, let's take a verse in the same chapter to give us some context. Paul also says that slaves should obey their earthly masters. And we know that THAT'S not advice for us today, right? The only slaves that exist in the US are young girls who are caught in sex trafficking, and Paul is definitely not telling THEM to obey their masters. So what does this all mean?

We should step back from the specific examples given, and realize that Paul is teaching us to have humble and obedient attitudes toward those in our lives, and to choose to be servants of everyone rather than bossing others around. In other words, Paul is teaching us to love. He's giving us several examples, some of which sounding odd to us today, in which we can express love to one another. The way we can say these things today would be something like: wives, love your husbands and learn to love them using the love language that they understand. Husbands, return the favor. Employees: give an honest day's work. Don't steal or cheat. Be a good worker, one that your boss can count on.

See how it works? It doesn't mean that we have to return to a patriarchal society with women doing whatever their husbands say or they'll be beaten. It doesn't mean we should return to slavery. It DOES mean love everyone in your life.

God, thanks for giving us examples that help us put Your directions into action... and teaching us how to apply those examples today.