The following paragraph is from the Chief End for Which God Created the World 8 (Marriage). It is meant to give context.
We need to look at the big picture for a moment before we have a short look at some of the particulars. If we desire marriage for selfish and self-centered considerations, then we do not desire the glory of God and the true good of the other. Most marriage counseling appears to be done on a needs basis, that is, that one spouse is to meet the needs of the other. Other forms of counseling are more behavior oriented and verses are prescribed as behavior modifiers in much the same way as medical doctors prescribe medication. The one says meeting the needs of the other glorifies God and the second says that certain behavior glorifies God. But does it really do that? Do certain behaviors in and of themselves glorify God according to His terminal purpose for humanity and all of creation?
The third particular in marriage is that of God’s command that the wife to submit to the husband as the Church is to submit to Christ. This is not a popular teaching in the culture of today. In fact, it is mocked and despised as are virtually all of the real teachings of Scripture. However, what is mocked is perhaps a misrepresentation of what is taught and it is certainly from a humanistic perspective. Why does culture mock and despise the biblical command for wives to submit to husbands? Within each human heart there is the idea that comes from pride and independence that “I answer to no one else.” The fall has had terrible effects on marriage. The real issue is that unbelieving women do not see that they are to submit to God first and foremost. That is the real problem.
God created all things as a means to communicate and display His own glory. Whatever else we do, we must get that basic thought driven into the depths of our souls. No human being is completely independent of other human beings, though some like to think so. That is because God has created human beings to display His glory in the Trinity. The Persons of the Trinity exists in perfect union and love. Marriage should be a reflection of that. As the second Person of the Trinity submitted perfectly to the Father though they were equal in power and glory, so the wife is to submit to her husband. In doing this she is carrying out her created purpose.
It seems as if people think of the submission of the wife as being much like the submission of a dog. Instead of the dog doing what it wants, it should sit and lay down as the master wants. It is to follow the command of its master each and every moment. This is, of course, before the days of animal rights. But the expression of the glory of the Trinity does not give us that teaching. Within the Trinity the Father and the Son have one common goal and that is the communication and display of the glory of God. The Son submitted to the Father out of love while knowing that He was perfectly loved and that this submission was to carry out the purpose of the Trinity which was the glory of God. There is no groveling and carrying out arbitrary commands. There is the perfect and mutual love in being focused on the chief and terminal desire of the triune God and that is to manifest His glory.
The command for the husband to love his wife and the command for the wife to submit to her husband fit together as aspects of marriage which are there to show forth the glory of God. The wife that fights submission to her husband is really fighting submission to God. The passage tells us that the wife is to submit to the husband as to the Lord: “22 Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. 24 But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything” (Eph 5:22-24). In submitting to her husband the wife is proclaiming who her real Lord is, and that is Christ. When the wife does not submit to her husband, she is showing that she is her own lord and she will obey herself.
Marriage was planned by God as a way to manifest His glory on earth. The submission of the wife to the husband with the proper attitude is the display of true character and beauty, that is, it is to be like Christ in His submission to His Father. When the believing wife lovingly submits to her husband, the glory of God is shining through her.
God Loves... Himself 
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