Giving Up

By Willa Johnson

“Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord.” Ephesians 5:22

If you want to get the ire of a feminist, just quote that verse from the Bible. It does no good to tell her of a later verse that tells the husband to love his wife “just as Christ also loved the church.”

A friend told me once that she didn’t like Paul’s writings because of what he said about women. I asked, “But, don’t you believe that all scripture was written at the direction of the Holy Spirit?” She didn’t. She preferred to pick and choose the parts of scripture that fit her beliefs. A lot of people are like that. They only want to accept certain passages with which they agree.

Being submissive isn’t easy, especially for a strong-willed person. We’ve all seen a young child who believes he is capable of doing everything for himself no matter how difficult. He may end up making a mess of things but that’s the way he learns. Parents are there to guide and nurture and still give the child free reign to accomplish growth.

God has provided us with a textbook to deal with all phases of life. Problems arise when we refuse to follow His instructions. In a devotional booklet telling about King Ahaz, it states he proceeded on his own course time and again even though God tried to turn his heart. Finally, only one question remained: How long will God’s patience continue with His rebellious people?

From the beginning of recorded history of mankind, God has tried to keep his people on course. Yet, they have chosen to go their own way, getting deeper in trouble. In the Bible sometimes they did turn around and trust Him.

As I read the devotional about King Ahaz and the question asked, I couldn’t help but wonder if America is not at that crossroads now. God and especially Christians are demeaned through art, humor, education and just about every aspect of our lives. Yet, we are expected to remain “tolerant” while our values are trampled and the devil’s values are lifted up as “normal.”

I wonder: How long will God’s patience continue with His rebellious people now before He says, “Enough already?” Or, will we give up, surrender and let God take over? A wife may never “submit” to her husband, but unless we submit to the Lord, we’re lost. As the famous hymn states: “Trust and obey for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey.”

Willa Johnson writes from Phoenix, Oregon.: wjhat@ccountry.com