Today, men and women alike do not
see the logic and significance behind authorities placed above us. We are most likely to grumble and complain especially when the weaknesses and negative attitudes of the one in authority are evident to us and to others. We wonder, “Why, of all people was I assigned here?”, “Why is my mom this way?” Or “It’s okay not to pay the right taxes, the government is corrupt anyway.”
In my devotion today, God spoke to me about submission.
In Romans 13 verse 1, God said“ Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.”
You might say, “But my dad is really unreasonable. You wouldn’t even dare think of that verse when you meet him.” I may agree with you and so would the whole neighborhood, but God placed you there, didn’t He? Do you believe it in your heart, that He is God? Have you considered that He has a purpose for you there? Has it occurred to you that this may be Him answering your prayers when you prayed, “Please make me more patient?”
You just may perhaps be the only reflection of the living Christ in your family. office mates, friends or classmates lives.
A friend of mine once shared her story with us about her superior. We shall read about her testimony in my next post but just to give you an introduction, she works for the bank and as you would know here, every centavo counts. Here, she has a difficult office mate with whom she felt hurt and judged. With Christ as her example, she submitted and showed love and grace towards her.
Another inspiring story is when David refused to rebel and fight despite King Saul’s pursuit to kill him and in spite God telling David that he will be the future king of Israel. Wouldn’t you agree that the temptation of assuming that this is the time God ordained for him to be king thus, to take things into your own hands would be so hard to resist. There were at least 2 instances wherein David could have killed King Saul. But he didn’t. He refused to harm whom God appointed king over Israel; even if that meant, no security, no home, no crown.
Both my friend and David sought God’s Sovereignty. They obeyed the authorities given them. They didn’t miss the opportunity for God to bless them.
In Proverbs 3: 5-6 it says, ‘Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Let God be your ultimate Boss. And remember, He will promote you in time.
About Angelyn
I quote from the author:
[You might say, “But my dad is really unreasonable. You wouldn’t even dare think of that verse when you meet him.” I may agree with you and so would the whole neighborhood, but God placed you there, didn’t He?]
If a person is unreasonable, then he is. Why do we human beings like to put meaning into something that just ‘is’? If we wait around asking for ‘patience’ nothing will change and he will remain, as you say, unreasonable. Submitting to an irrational power structure is flat-out idiocy.
In the case of the workplace; are you telling me not to intervene if someone (even a superior) has questionable business practices that would potentially harm the corporation? You should not be afraid to speak out, protest and act on it. So, why submit? You are your own boss, with due respect to your real bosses. Respect and submission is earned through exemplary leadership, not because he is your ‘dad’ or ‘boss’.
This example as compared to issues that the world is facing. In any case, if one is not PROACTIVE in inciting change for the better and constant questioning of questionable practices your community or the world at large will remain stagnated in false tradition and practice. Holistic human development will not progress, thus, nothing has improved.
The attitude of falsely placed patience and submission is called complacency and nothing else. We, as a race, should act more like wolves rather than sheep so to speak.
Good day to you.
Hello Ben,
Thank you for your comment. I really appreciate that you spoke your mind.
You are correct to say that when a person is unreasonable, he or she just is. But how we respond whether by words or acts say who we are. And in that context, others may also judge us as selfish and rude.
Submitting to authority in this article talks about believing that there is a Higher Being who is responsible for putting us where we are. And so, we submit because we ought to BE DIFFERENT as God’s children.
In response to calling out something as wrong when we know it is NOT a problem. We just have to do it in love and remember the MOTIVE of WHY we’re doing it.