In Order To Discover Value

I am becoming increasingly convinced that submission is one of the many thoroughly misunderstood concepts in the Bible, and therefore one of the many rather disastrous doctrines commonly taught in the church.

You may recall that I discussed two methods of valuation. What you might call the "Old Covenant" style of valuation (which, unfortunately, most New Covenant believers still practice) is based on what we do. This is "I do something valuable" or "I am a loving person" or "I give all that I have to the poor" therefore "I am valuable." The "New Covenant" style of valuation, which was implemented before the foundations of the world (not, I contend, at Jesus’ crucifixion) is based on what has been done for me. This would be expressed as "I know I am valuable, because Jesus gave himself for me." The Israelites in the wilderness could have put it this way: "I know I am valuable, because God rescued me from slavery in Egypt."

Somewhere in that picture of New Covenant valuation is submission. When I say somewhere, I mean that I am not sure if it comes first, or if it comes second, but I do know it’s there.

We see a most amazing "doing for" when Jesus washed his disciples feet. It was, at least in part, a statement of value: because they were valuable, he was washing their feet. There is another type of "doing for" that is frequently demonstrated in stories throughout Bible history, when the Lord would tell His people, "I will fight for you." Both of these require submission.

Peter had to submit to Jesus, and we see that he didn’t want to. "It isn’t right that you would do this for me!" he argued. But when Jesus said that it was necessary, in order for Peter to be in union with Jesus, Peter changed his tune. Likewise, consider one of the famous fighting statements, which Moses relayed on the banks of the Red Sea. "God will fight for you; you will hold your peace." You will submit, he could have said. You will remain still and calm.

You will wait.

I have a big bank loan. I acquired the big bank loan because I had become convinced that the Lord was challenging me to do it, to do the work He’d challenged me to do on my house. Right now I’m paying only interest. Okay, but how about if I start paying it down? After all, the bigger the balance, the more the interest. I’m not defaulting on the loan here, I’m just not entirely comfortable with paying only the required amount. It isn’t getting me anywhere.

But suppose God said He would give it to me. (And I believe He did.) You need to understand that we nearly always have the option of attempting to save ourselves. Submission, the real deal that utilizes the faith that pleases God, is a choice.

Will I wait? If I won’t, I’ll never truly know my own value.

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