Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but
also for conscience’ sake. For because
of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually
to this very thing. Render therefore to
all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to
whom fear, honour to whom honour. Romans
13:5-7
It
is one thing to obey because we fear getting a ticket or being arrested or
avoid some other deterrent. Most of us can make ourselves do that. Our kids can
obey because we are bigger than they are. We can obey laws because we don’t
want to pay fine or go to jail or whatever. That is obeying out of fear.
Proper
submission goes a bit farther. God wants us to obey ‘for conscience sake,’ or
simply because it is the right thing to do. God doesn’t want us to obey because
we are forced to. We don’t want our kids to obey just because if we don’t they
will be punished. God desires submission from a submissive heart that wants to
please Him.
We
really ought to do right simply because it is the right thing to do. One of
those is to obey those in authority. We oughtn’t quibble and look for loopholes
or strive to skirt the laws.
Do
right because it is right to do.
That
starts where everything does – with a right heart.
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