Daily Bread 2010 - Romans 13
Daily Bread 2010 - Romans 13
Submission to the Authorities
1Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. 4For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. 6This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. 7Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
Paul is addressing the issue of how believers relate to the governing or secular authorities. He points out that even in the secular world, those given power have been given their power by God to keep order in the civil world. The secular authorities are given the “power of the sword”, that is the power to exact justice on all those who break the law.
God uses earthly authorities like policemen, judges, governors etc… to keep basic in order in society. As Christians, we are to submit to these authorities as a part of our submission to God the ultimate authority. This also encourages us to be aware of what is going on in politics, and to elect officials that we believe will honor their God given authority in the most effective and forthright way.
Paul, even goes as far as to tell the believers to pay their taxes. I am sure there were those who reasoned that they shouldn’t have to pay taxes, so they could put the money to better use. But Paul advocates that the early Christian community should be model citizens and pay their fair share of taxes. In other passages, we are told to pray for those who govern. Take a moment to pray for those who govern our land: our president, our congressional leaders, those on the Supreme Court and other governing officials.
God help us to obey those who you have given the power of the sword to keep evil at bay. We pray for those who govern including President Obama, our governor and all those elected to serve the people in our country. We thank you for our freedom and those who protect it and we pray that you would keep them out of harm’s way. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Submission to the Authorities
1Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. 4For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. 6This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. 7Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
Paul is addressing the issue of how believers relate to the governing or secular authorities. He points out that even in the secular world, those given power have been given their power by God to keep order in the civil world. The secular authorities are given the “power of the sword”, that is the power to exact justice on all those who break the law.
God uses earthly authorities like policemen, judges, governors etc… to keep basic in order in society. As Christians, we are to submit to these authorities as a part of our submission to God the ultimate authority. This also encourages us to be aware of what is going on in politics, and to elect officials that we believe will honor their God given authority in the most effective and forthright way.
Paul, even goes as far as to tell the believers to pay their taxes. I am sure there were those who reasoned that they shouldn’t have to pay taxes, so they could put the money to better use. But Paul advocates that the early Christian community should be model citizens and pay their fair share of taxes. In other passages, we are told to pray for those who govern. Take a moment to pray for those who govern our land: our president, our congressional leaders, those on the Supreme Court and other governing officials.
God help us to obey those who you have given the power of the sword to keep evil at bay. We pray for those who govern including President Obama, our governor and all those elected to serve the people in our country. We thank you for our freedom and those who protect it and we pray that you would keep them out of harm’s way. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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