TODAY’S
WORD FOR THURSDAY OCTOBER 17, 2013.
AUTHORITY
DEFINITION:
The
power to determine or settle issues; the right to govern or control;
authorization; adjudicate; a power or right delegated as given.
SCRIPTURE:
For
there is no authority except from God and the authorities that exist are
appointed by God. Romans 13:1.
All
authority has been given to me in heaven and in earth. Matthew 28:18.
When
the righteous are in authority the people rejoice; but when a wicked man rules,
the people groan. Proverbs 29:2.
For
He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Matthew 7:29
KNOWLEDGE
AND EXPERIENCE:
Do
I have to? How many times have parents heard that from their children? It is
inbred in us to resist authority. It began with Adam and Eve when they resisted
God’s authority. When people become their own authority and act on their own
opinions of right and wrong the results are horrendous.
As
Christians we need to look at the word "AUTHORITY" from several
perspectives. First, the authority that God has over us as Christians. And
second, what God says about the authority we have in the individual roles that
we have been given or assumed in life.
The
Bible declares God to be the supreme authority and the source of all authority.
The scripture is clear that there is absolutely no authority given to man other
than by God.
By
the time that the Children of Israel had left Egypt, they were a large nation
and needed a provision of authority to unify them, to give leadership to them
and to keep order. God exercised His authority with them and delegated
authority to the priests and the prophets to guide their spiritual needs.
Later, when Israel demanded to have a "King," God gave authority to a
king to govern and establish civil law.
When
we are in a position of authority in this life, we must recognize that all of
our authority comes from God and we should exercise our power according to
God's rules and remember that God will judge us on our performance. Concerning
the authority of our leaders in government and at our work place,
unfortunately, we live in a corrupt and sinful world so we have corrupt
leaders.
As
we read in the accounts of the Kings that ruled over Israel, some were good and
others were evil and corrupt. The corrupt rule of the ungodly kings led to
Israel’s destruction.
We
must be wise in choosing those who are in authority over us. The words of
Proverbs 29:2 are true. We will groan when we are under the authority of wicked
rulers. We must choose rulers who are God-fearing and righteous. Believers must
pray for those in authority to make righteous decisions. Nevertheless, we as
Christians must accept the authority of those in positions of authority over us
as long as it does not conflict with God's laws and moral standards. And
remember, when we rebel against those in authority over us we are rebelling
against God.
Concerning
authority in the home, the scripture gives us in Ephesians chapter 5 specific
instructions on how family members should relate to one another. As the head of
the wife, husbands are to love their wives and wives are to submit to their
husbands. This does not mean that the husband is the ruler nor is the wife
inferior. But it does mean that the husband is the spiritual leader, always
thinking of his wife's best interests, and his wife should acknowledge his
leadership.
A
husband that loves the Lord and is wise will not take advantage of his
leadership role and a wife who loves the Lord will wisely not seek to undermine
her husband's leadership. Unfortunately, this line of authority is not popular
today and is not being practiced in most homes.
Consequently we have seen family values eroding and more than 50% of all
marriages fail.
Men
no longer know how to lead their families properly under God's direction. They
have abused their role. Wives want to be equal today and do not want to be
subject in any way to their husband as is God's plan for marriage.
It
is very important that parents establish with their children, at a very young
age that they (the parents) are in charge. They must understand early in life
that it is God's plan for, "children to obey their parents."
Many
today when analyzing the ills of society blame it on the schools. Teachers will
tell you that one of the biggest problems they deal with in the classroom is
the lack of respect students have for the teachers and those in authority over
them. It is hard to teach children who are not willing to submit to authority.
Teaching
to submit to authority is the job of parents and needs to begin when the
children are very young. This is not the job of the school, the church or the
government. Children who never learn to submit to authority will not be
successful in the work place. They will experience trouble in life.
Unfortunately, their troubles often bring pain and suffering to others.
It
cannot be stressed too strongly just how important it is for us to recognize
and respect God's authority in all that we do as individuals, as a family, with
our neighbors and in our work place. For Christians --- all authority is with
God.
LEARNING:
Our
memory verse for this week is found in I Timothy 2:5
For
there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.
PRAYER:
Prepare
my heart to live a life that respects Your authority in all situations. Give me
a new respect for You, my family and all those that I make contact with today.
Continue to teach me daily to trust You more.
