10 January 2012

Respect For Authority

Respect for authority is one of societies greatest needs. Ephesians chapter five and six deal with the principle of authority. All authority under God is to be a reflection of the ultimate authority. Husbands are the authority in marriage. However, Ephesians 5:25 says, "husbands, love your wives,even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it." Authority under God is never given for the selfish ambitions of the earthly authority. It is granted to benefit God in the entity that the authority is authorized to serve. The same is true of parental authority. Ephesians 6:1 says "children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right". It goes on in Ephesians 6:4 to say, "fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord". Again, this authority is not granted to serve the one in authority! Authority is granted to serve God in every aspect of human life. This principle can be seen in governmental power(Romans 13:1-7). Listen and heed God's wise counsel in Hebrews 13:7, "obey them that have the rule over you". Parents; do your children know who is in charge? They better know.....and you better know who is in charge of you! God help us to maintain proper godly authority!