By bro Lee Tian Seng
God has ordained authority in every human relationship.
God wants us to submit to the authority of the government by obeying the laws of the land. Jesus Christ teaches that we need to respect them and pay taxes. What would a country be like if there are no rules and people break the law?
Romans 13:1-2 - 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.
1 Peter 2:13-14 - Therefore submit yourselves to every [c]ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good.
Matthew 22:21 - They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
God also expects us to respect authority at work. Employees must submit to their employers and supervisors in doing the work that they are responsible to do. What would businesses be like if their employees come to work whenever they like and do not do the work assigned to them?
Ephesians 6:5-8 - Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.
1 Peter 2:18 - Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh.
God also ordained authority in the family. God has assigned the husband/ father to be the head of the family. His wife and children are to submit to him as the leader of the family. Children are to obey their parents.
Ephesians 5:22-24 - Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.
Ephesians 6:1-3 - Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.”
Authority is needed in all these institutions. Without leadership and respect of authority, nothing can be achieved and everything will be in chaos and ruin.
When children respect the authority at home, they benefit from their parents’ teaching and wisdom. A child needs guidance, and parents are to teach and nurture them. If children do not respect and obey their parents, they will not be able to learn from them. The instructions of the parents give the children wisdom that helps them avoid mistakes and live a better life.
Proverbs 29:15 - The rod and rebuke give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.
Proverbs 4:10-12 - Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, and the years of your life will be many. I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in right paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hindered, and when you run, you will not stumble.
When children respect the authority of parents, they gain a sense of security. Children know that their parents are wiser than they are. They seek their guidance, though at times they resist them. So, when parents set the limits and children keep them, it give them a sense of security.
Proverbs 4:20-22 - My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart; for they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh.
When children submit to authority at home, they also develop good character and habits. When parents train their children from young, insisting that they practice what is right, they will develop good character and habits which will stay with them till they grow old.
Proverbs 22:6 - Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
As we can see, God wants our children to respect authority at home. Children will benefit from the teaching, wisdom, guidance and training of their parents if they honour and obey them.