Submission

Got these pics via email today. Which type of wife would you choose, guys?

Jokes aside, God has been teaching me about submission lately. It's not an easy to do. Else, why would the Bible be liberally peppered with reminders to submit to one another?

I read something recently which made me feel uneasy:

Mature sons and daughters are learning to be subject to another's mission and not just their own.

It brought to mind something that I was going through. It was something a group of leaders were organising. I found the theme of the whole thing to be boring. I can imagine a zillion of other things I'd like to do than to participate in that. That was just the surface level thing. There were deeper issues that governed my way of thinking.

The crux of the matter was, I felt that the people who are my authorities do not take an interest in what I'm passionate about. And since they don't care about what I care about, I also refused to take an interest in supporting causes that are dear to their hearts. In short, I was being rebellious towards them.

The meaning of submission:

"readiness to renounce one's own will for the sake of others . . . and to give precedence to others" (Gerhard Kittel, ed., Theological Dictionary of New Testament Theology, 8:45)."

"deference - polite regard for someone else's wishes, ideas, etc as used in Word Biblical Commentary (J. Ramsey Michaels, Word Biblical Commentary: 1 & 2 Peter, p. 167)."

God reminded me of the sacrifice of the leaders for the cause that I took a bland interest in. And that really pricked and humbled me. They gave so much of themselves for it. And I can't even spend some time to support them? Finally, I could see my rebellious spirit for what it was. And it was not a pretty sight.

God also reminded me that we reap what we sow. If I sow seeds of rebellion now, I would only stand to reap a harvest of rebellion from the people that I'm overseeing - my subordinates, my cell members... and in future, my children. I shuddered. Nothing is more trying than to steer a herd of rebellious folks to work together. Nothing is more heart rending than to see your own children treating your words contemptuously and do things their own way just to spite you.

I repented like a shot. I told a dear friend who stood by me through that process that I would support my leaders in that event. He replied with grace, saying that I will be blessed. Thanks, FM

And when I reached home that night, mom told me that dad bought a new wall clock. I walked into the hall and saw him perched on the ladder, preparing a spot to hang the clock. I did something I would normally not do. I took a good look at the clock. It was very handsome, sturdy and made of good wood. I ran my fingers on its smooth surface and said, "It's a lovely clock, Papa."

The beam of smile that broke upon his face spoke a wealth of words to me. How amazing, how freeing it is when we look beyond ourselves and take an interest in the things our authorities are interested in.

And that, that is the beauty of submission.