In a culture where marriage is increasingly devalued, understanding God's design for this sacred institution becomes more important than ever. For the first time in American history, less than half of all adults are married, and only 21% of parents believe it's important for their children to marry. The institution of marriage is under attack, with many voices in our culture portraying it as restrictive, boring, and career-limiting.

The enemy of our souls has always targeted the family. Jesus said of Satan that "he was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies."

I’m currently preaching on Biblical marriage at our church and while this message is primarily for women, we can reflect as men on how well we are encouraging our wives and praying for them to walk submissively within our marriage relationship.

Three Principles of Biblical Submission

1. Submission is Obedience to God

Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 11 that "the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God." This establishes a structure where Christ is subject to the Father, husbands are subject to Christ, and wives are subject to their husbands. Submission is not about losing honor but giving honor. Many women hesitate to submit because they've been made to feel it's degrading when it's actually a matter of dedication, not degradation. They also fear manipulation, which stems from selfish, unwise husbands who misuse their authority.

2. Submission is an Opportunity for God

The Gospel was radically liberating for women in the first century, elevating them from their position under legalistic Judaism and Roman culture. Because of this newfound freedom, the apostles needed to clarify biblical roles.

Peter instructs wives to take their God-given place in the created order so their husbands "may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives." A godly wife's example and prayers can be powerful in bringing an unbelieving husband to faith, as demonstrated by Monica, the mother of Augustine, whose godliness led both her husband and wayward son to Christ.

3. Submission is an Ornament of Grace

Peter emphasizes that a wife's beauty should not depend primarily on "fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry or beautiful clothes" but on "the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God."

The Bible doesn't forbid attention to outward appearance but emphasizes that our priority should be the inner person. As Spurgeon said, "When home is ruled according to God's word, angels might be asked to stay with us and would not find themselves out of their element."

The greatest example of submission is Jesus Christ himself, who submitted to the Father's will even when facing the cross, praying, "Not my will, but yours be done." His submission made our salvation possible.

As you reflect on your own marriage consider these questions :

Are you fulfilling your God-given role in your marriage relationship? How might your marriage better reflect God's design if you embraced biblical principles? In what ways has cultural thinking influenced your view of marriage roles?

Commit to studying what Scripture says about your role in marriage. Husbands, consider how you can sacrificially love your wife as Christ loved the church. Remember that God's design for marriage is for our good and His glory, even when it runs counter to cultural trends.