Respect for Authority

Romans 13:1-7

Scripture: Romans 13:1-7 (ESV)

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending continually upon this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.

Devotion:

In this passage, Paul addresses a common issue in human societies—our relationship with authority. Our main problem often lies in our natural tendency to resist control or oversight, especially from authorities whose decisions we might disagree with. This resistance can lead to disorder and chaos, undermining the societal structures designed to maintain peace and justice. Nothing I have ever seen has tested our interpretation of this passage as much as the COVID pandemic.

For those of you reading from overseas, I am writing this from Melbourne, Victoria, in Australia. We hold the unfortunate title as the city with world’s longest COVID-19 lockdown (262 days). When the government tells churches to stay shut, it becomes a lot more difficult to submit to governing authorities. One the one hand if you don’t obey, you are disobeying Romans 13. On the other hand, what right does a government have to prevent people from worshipping God? It was a tricky time to navigate as a church leadership.

In this passage Paul reminds us that all authority is established by God. This does not mean that every action that every leader has taken is endorsed by God! History is full of leaders who have abused their power. No this is recognizing that God instituted authority in the world as a way of ordering the world. When we respect and submitting to authority, we are, in essence, trusting in God's sovereignty over human affairs.

Now if you are a ruler, says Paul, you have a job to do. You are to use your power to promote good and to deter evil. It is right to pay taxes! Look it says it right here! When a government functions correctly, it serves as God's agents to enforce justice and maintain peace. Now of course this isn’t always the case and the reality is often very far from the ideal. Our governments, like us, are subject to sin and human imperfection. But that doesn’t override the principle, that God uses governmental structures to prevent chaos in our fallen world.

Now what does this mean for us practically?

It means doing what is right under the law. We show respect to our governing authorities. We pray for them. We pay our taxes to them. We support them in their work. We do this not because it our duty. We do this because in faith we are trust that God knows what he is doing in ordaining the authorities we have above us.

Prayer:

Lord, grant me the wisdom to see Your hand even in the structures of human authority. Help me to respect and submit to my leaders, not as a sign of weakness, but as a testament to my faith in Your sovereignty. Where authorities fail, give me the courage to stand for justice in ways that honor Your name, remembering that ultimate authority belongs to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Spiritual Challenge:

Consider how you typically react to decisions made by authorities, whether in government, your workplace, or even your family. Challenge yourself today to respond with respect and prayer, particularly in a situation where you might disagree. Reflect on how this aligns with your faith and your call to be a peacemaker in your community.