Younger believers should submit to older believers, not only out of respect for their age, but generally speaking also out of respect for their spiritual maturity. But this is not to suggest that older church members should “run the church” and never listen to the younger members! Too often there is a generational war in the church, with older people resisting change and younger people resisting the older people!

The solution is twofold: (1) all believers, young and old, should submit to each other, (2) all should submit to God. “Be clothed with humility” (1 Peter 5:5) is the answer to the problem.

Just as Jesus laid aside His outer garments and put on a towel to become a servant, so each of us should have a servant’s attitude and minister to each other. Humility is not demeaning ourselves and thinking poorly of ourselves. It is simply not thinking of ourselves at all!

We can never be submissive to each other until we are first submissive to God. It takes grace to submit to another believer, but God can give that grace if we humble ourselves before Him.

Remember this: “Ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble” (1 Peter 5:5).

Other Scripture: Philippians 2:1-11; Ephesians 5:21; James 4:6.

Action assignment: Put your imagination to work. Think of at least two ways that you could or should submit to another Christian, whether older or younger. Ask God to give you a better grasp of this matter of submission.

WARREN W. WIERSBE
www.backtothebible.in