If you’ve ever felt frustrated and stifled because of a restrictive, oppressive relationship with someone, you’ve got plenty of company. Traditional relationships between men and women are structured according to the old covenant of the Law of Moses, which limits both genders to narrow, biased expectations. However, the new covenant of grace transforms our relationships and destroys all limitations. Because of what Jesus did, grace is now equally dispensed to men and women.
This negates the “Who’s the boss?” mentality that plagues so many marriages and relationships we see around us. Being “the boss” according to God’s plan involves sacrificial servanthood, the way Jesus demonstrated during His ministry. Jesus told His disciples that true leadership didn’t mean exercising dominion over others the way the Gentile leaders did, but rather ministering to them the way Jesus demonstrated.
The dictionary defines “head” as one who is in command or authority. The Bible teaches that submission is mutual; its definition of the word “head” is much different. Although the husband is the head of the wife, his responsibility is to nourish and cherish her, not dominate her. As the church is subject to Christ, so let wives be to their husbands in everything; in turn, husbands are to love their wives the same way Christ loves the church.
Our relationships must now catch up to this definition of headship so that God’s favor can fall on men and women equally, the way He intended it from the beginning. Grace opens up new opportunities for everyone to use the gifts and talents they received from God. In Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek, neither male nor female.
God shows no partiality; therefore, there’s no reason to show it in our relationships. He made men and women in His image and blessed them both. Therefore, we’re all free to walk in His blessings.
Prayer:
Lord, no longer do we need to force ourselves into painful, outdated relationships that limit us. As people made in Your image, we now have the freedom to serve others the way You called us to. We’re grateful for that. In Jesus’name, amen.
Scriptures:
- Matthew 20:25-28
- Ephesians 5:21-29
- 1 Corinthians 11:3
- Galatians 3:28
- Acts 10:34
- Romans 2:11
- Genesis 1:27, 28