The Blessing Of Authority In Our Lives
When we think of authority we can often think of negative consequences before we think of positive ones. That is because we have most likely experienced authority that abuse and works to hurt rather than blesses and seeks to build up others. But God views authority as that which is good and He highlights godly authority as a key to our experiencing life as He intended it to be experienced. That is why God has placed authority relationships in every area of our lives—marriage, parenting, church, government, work, etc.
To show us just how important our proper response to these authority relationships are, God tells us that if we will properly respond to those in authority over us He will bless us. Please note that there is no exception to this principle for ‘I will submit if those in authority please me.’ The emphasis is on our response, in time God will deal with the actions of those who are in charge over us.
How are you doing in the various authority relationships in your life? Here are a few steps you can take to help you ‘get under in order get over’:
1. Pray for your attitude towards the concept of authority in general. Authority is a dirty word to many people in our society but to God it is an important aspect of life. He sees authority as good and a blessing to life.
2. Pray for your attitude towards those in authority over you. Don’t be fooled, our outlook is primarily determined by our attitude. Or as someone put it, ‘your attitude determines your altitude.’
3. Pray for those in authority over you. There is always a greater responsibility and accountability for those who lead. Paul even went as far as describing Elders, those who have primary authority in the church, as ‘those who will give an account’ because ‘they keep watch over your souls’ (Hebrews 13:7).
4. Thank the Lord for those in authority over you. A thankful heart sees God in everything, everywhere, at every moment. No wonder we are commanded ‘In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you’ (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
“For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.”
Galatians 6:8