Bible Study
Humility is the quality of having a modest or low view of one’s importance. It is meekness, lowliness and absence of self. Bible meaning of humility point to; godliness, trusting fully in the Lord, fear of the Lord, unconditional love, obedience and submission to God, leaning on God, praying to God, turning to God for help, being lowly and meek. Three immediate benefits of combining humility with the fear of the Lord are riches, honor and a long life (Proverbs 2:24).
Relationship Between Humility and Submission
Submission is the act of accepting or yielding to a superior force or to the will or authority of another person. Authority is delegated power.
There is a strong connection between humility and submission. Submission requires subordination, subjection, obedience, yielding which are all expressions of humility. To successfully submit to an authority, humility is needed.
I believe that unlike humility which we are expected to express towards God and all men, submission is contextual or domain defined.
How Contextual is Submission?
If we agree that authority is delegated power, then we can appreciate its contextual nature. By being ‘delegated’, there is a presupposition of the existence of a superior power who entrusts or relinquishes some/all of that power to another, usually someone lower in hierarchy. The recipient of some/all of this power is then endued with the ability or capacity to direct or influence the actions of others or to determine the course of events.
Authorities are only effective within specific domains in which they are recognized and respected. For example, American laws may not be binding on an Indian resident in India, however, should this Indian visit America, say on vacation, he/she would have to operate within American laws or face some consequences.
The fate of an Iranian female musician in Washington is not the same as it will be in her homeland which operates as a conservative religious entity with strict restrictions on female soloist.
A Muslim is not bound by Christian guidelines and vice versa, so a Christian should not be judged based on Islamic rules/laws.
According to the Bible, the husband is the head of the wife who is expected to submit to him, however, a husband’s headship is confined only to his home, he is not head of another man’s wife/home. He may however hold leadership positions anywhere else, say in an organization or government.
The Christian Organogram and the Place of Humility
Christ is the Head of the Church and He was/is totally submitted to God Almighty (Deuteronomy 7:9, 1 Corinthians 11:2-3, Philippians 2:9, Ephesians 1:22, Colossians 1:8). Every follower of Jesus Christ is a member of the Body of Christ. Members of the Body of Christ are under Christ’s authority.
So if we were to draw an organogram for the leadership of the Church, we would have something like this…..
Somebody asks; ‘where do we locate old testament saints, prophets and the ministry gifts (Prophets, Apostles, Pastors, Teachers, Evangelists)?
Old testament saints and prophets were not Christians. They communicated with God directly, through dreams or through angels.
Ministry gifts operate in Members of the Body of Christ (MoBC). Everyone on the third level of this simple chart is a MoBC.
Every ministry gift was given by Christ for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edification of the Church, and for building up the Church ( Ephesians 4:11-14, Ephesians 4:12 NLT). Everyone operating in these gifts is expected to be under Christ’s authority.
The only High Priest and Mediator between God and the Church is Christ (I Timothy 2:5 NKJV, Hebrews 8:6 NLT, John 17:3).
So, no, carriers of ministry gifts are not intermediaries between members of a local Church and Christ. Yes, you can access Christ directly, and God through Christ. However, these people are appointed by Christ to occupy and function in their different offices.
As stated in 5 Signs You Are Ready for Your Call, each ministry gift is a leadership role. It is therefore a no-brainer that to become edified or built up through someone’s teachings, you must follow their leadership. This follower-ship requires trust, humility and submission. Probably the most important of these 3 for me is trust, because where there is trust, submission becomes easy.
Trust, that the leadership provided is itself submitted to Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1, 1 Timothy 6:3, 2 Timothy 2:15-19).
Again, I believe humility should not be dependent on anything or anyone. Humility is a virtue every Christian should possess. Humility helps us submit and serve under authority, including a local Church authority we respect and trust.
If it happens that a Believer becomes unsure of the leadership direction in a place, such a person may offer suggestions on how things can be done differently, or trust that God will lead him/her to another place of worship/service (1 Corinthians 11:1, 1 Timothy 6:3, 2 Timothy 2:15-19).
Double honor for Good elders
Below, I share 3 different Bible translations of 1 Timothy 5:17;
“Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.” NKJV
“Elders who do their work well should be respected and paid well, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching.” NLT
“The elders who perform their leadership duties well are to be considered worthy of double honor (financial support), especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching [the word of God concerning eternal salvation through Christ]” AMP
According to 1 Timothy 5:17, other members of the Body of Christ are expected to honor the elders who lead/rule well. This is particularly important for those operating in the ministry gifts (of teaching, preaching). Obviously the double honor mentioned by the NKJV version means they should be respected and paid well. If anyone is in doubt about how to pay these people well, they can start by releasing their tithe to the running of the local Church.
“Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!“
Malachi 3:10 NLT
“Give these instructions to the Levites: When you receive from the people of Israel the tithes I have assigned as your allotment, give a tenth of the tithes you receive—a tithe of the tithe—to the Lord as a sacred offering.”
Numbers 18:26 NLT
The Tithe Is a Holy Thing and belongs to God, He allotted it to the priests. As we read the Epistles, we find that the Early Church seems to have placed more emphasis on members bringing gifts and offerings for the running of the Church. That’s understandable, when we realize that not much is said about Tithing in those times. Jesus did not discourage tithing, meaning tithing remains relevant in this dispensation of grace (Matthew 23:23). I think that a local assembly with effective Tithing/Offering Collection system, should ensure their Preachers and Teachers are well paid. However, tithing shouldn’t stop the giving of love offerings to meet needs of good elders. Additionally, every God-centered, people-oriented projects that are transparently managed present good opportunities for sowing and serving.
“Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:14-19 NKJV
Submission in a Christian Marriage Relationship
In a Christian marriage relationship, God delegated the position of headship to the husband. The husband himself is under Christ’s authority. The husband is to love his wife unconditionally, just as Christ loves the Church. The wife is expected to submit to her own husband.
“Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them.”
Colossians 3:18-19 NKJV
“Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives.“
I Peter 3:1 NKJV
“Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church.”
Ephesians 5:22-29 NKJV
A few times, I’ve heard two or more men say to another man’s wife ‘wives are expected to submit to husbands’. I do not believe that is correct. The Bible admonishes the wife to submit to the authority of her own husband, not to every husband.
Like already stated, true submission is only possible when we assume a humble disposition. A wife would submit more easily when she respects and honors her husband. And to love unconditionally, as God commanded the man, requires humility. Little wonder that summarily, the Bible admonishes Christians to submit to one another.
Be Guided By The Word of God
Nations, social groups, organisations, agencies run by a constitution. The constitution provides the basic principles and laws that determine the power, laws, duties of the governing body as well as expectations of and from of other persons under it. This makes for checks and balances and also determines how much authority a body can assert.
It is to every citizen’ or employer’s advantage to be acquainted with the guiding constitution.
The Bible is God’s Word to us. We can never be misled, or confused if we become conversant with it.
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,”
II Timothy 3:16 NKJV
“Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.”
Psalms 119:105 NKJV
At whatever level in our engagements, we must resist (humbly and in love) any leadership principle or directives that remains contrary to the Word of God.
“Once you come into the Kingdom of God, the Bible becomes your constitution. Your thoughts and actions must align with it to stay on course“-Dr. Bill Winston
Thank you for joining me again on this study. I believe we have pretty much answered the question; ‘who should we be humble towards’? However, we will consider this in more detail in the next part.
Stay Safe: In the Word and Covenant.
Love Always
