Authority

From time to time, my husband and I watch a TV show entitled Lock Up. This show takes us inside prisons around the country and lets us see what life is like there. At many places, inmates must contend with overcrowding, ceaseless noise, putrid smells, and the constant threat of physical violence. Prison is not supposed to be a pleasant place, yet the surprising thing to me is that many of these prisoners are repeat offenders. They’ve lived in these deplorable conditions before, but being fully aware that their actions could lead to another arrest, they disobey the law anyway and find themselves back in the slammer.

The passage in Romans 13:1-8 gives us a clear directive for staying out of prison, receiving praise, and obeying God’s law all at the same time. 

• Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 3  For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor. Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. (NKJ)

Even if we have never been prisoners, the commandment here to be subject to governing authorities applies to all of us. Policemen and judges are not the only authorities to whom we need to subject ourselves. Our parents, bosses, spouses, teachers, and pastors also all qualify.

A key phrase in the above passage balances all this off. “Render therefore to all their due.” The word “render” comes from a Greek word meaning to give, pay, perform, or yield. “Due” means indebtedness, obligation, or duty. In other words, when it comes to authorities, pay or perform that which is your obligation or duty to give. In so doing, you are obeying God.

Our first and foremost duty is to obey God. By honoring authorities – as long as they are not contradicting God – we stay out of trouble, receive praise, and fulfill the His law, all at the same time. How’s that for killing three birds with one stone?

©2009 Sharon Norris Elliott. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including the copyright line. For all devotions, comments, and questions, log onto Sharon’s blog at www.sanewriter.wordpress.com.

~ by sanewriter on August 14, 2009.