Paul writes to the Ephesian Christians, “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord… Servants, be obedient to your masters… as to the Lord.”

The phrase, “as unto the Lord” is a key to Christian perspective of life. It takes our attitude about our role in life to a new and higher plane. It demands of us to be in control of our actions regardless of any other parties involved. It causes us to “do what is right” even if no one else in the world does.

Without this perspective, a wife may say, “I don’t submit myself to my husband BECAUSE HE DOESN’T DESERVE IT!… or BECAUSE HE’S NOT DOING HIS PART!” But if we are submitting…, “As unto the Lord” (or “as if we were doing this to the Lord Himself”), we submit as God instructed REGARDLESS of our husband’s actions – because we are doing this for the Lord! Our submission is not dependent upon our husband deserving it. He can make it easier and more pleasant – but we will submit regardless.

Without this perspective, a servant may say, “I don’t have to obey my master BECAUSE HE DOESN’T TREAT ME RIGHT!” But “obedience AS TO THE LORD” causes him to say, “I’m doing this for the Lord and I will be the best servant I can be… regardless of my master’s actions.”

Children will obey their parents whether they deserve it or not, because it is “IN THE LORD.”

Husbands will “love their wives as Christ loved the Church” whether they are lovable or not – because our obedience is based on a higher plane than before; and we will obey the Lord even if it is “in spite of” the whole world.

If our obedience to God is contingent upon someone else’s action (or reaction – as the case may be), the time will come when we refuse to obey! But if we make our obedience “UNTO THE LORD“, nothing can possibly happen that would cause us to refuse obedience to HIM!

Our lives will take on a new dependability and steadfastness with our new perspective. A new calmness and sense of direction comes into our lives.

In Col. 3:17-23 (a passage parallel to Eph. 5:21-6:9), Paul begins his instructions to Wives, Husbands, Children, Fathers, Servants, and Masters (Col. 4:1) with this admonition: “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus…“ He also ends that instruction with our new perspective: “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord. And not unto men.”

Let’s determine to adopt this new attitude about our lives.

… Ken Stegall