No one likes to see blue lights in his rearview mirror, but if you’re speed- ing or breaking traffic laws, you’re accountable to them because they repres- ent authority over you.
If your boss calls you into his office at work to reprimand you for an ac- tion you’ve taken, you may or may not feel like his rebuke is warranted. But he is in authority over you, and you are accountable to honor him.
The whole concept of authority comes from God. Earthly authority is His design and tool for creating order and for keeping us accountable and respons- ible, for honoring good and for punishing evil (Romans 13:1–4). Authorities on earth help keep us mindful of His superior, eternal authority—and to pre- pare us for the day when we stand before Him in judgment.
Since God can turn the heart of anyone in a leadership position in any direction (Proverbs 21:1) and replace a leader at any moment, we should be like Jesus and submit to our imperfect, human authorities knowing that God uses them to carry out His purposes (John 19:11). The only time we should
not submit to them is when they are asking us to disobey God and sin (Acts
5:29). A higher authority trumps them at that point.
Both Romans 13 and Hebrews 13 give us insight into the importance of understanding and obeying the authorities God has placed in our lives.
Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that
exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and
those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. (Romans 13:1–2 NIV)
Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will
be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you. (Hebrews 13:17–18)
Notice that Scripture does not tell us to obey them only if we agree with their judgment. It simply says to “submit” to authority, and that whoever rebels is not rebelling against an individual but against God Himself.
So if a person in authority is misusing his position, you can know that he will be required to “give an account” for his own actions to an authority high- er than himself. He is more accountable to God because he must answer to Him not only for his own performance but also for his leadership of those un- der him. That’s a sobering thought—one that anyone in a position of authority should constantly remember.
Handling and responding to authority is serious business.
In fact, a biblical approach doesn’t merely mean not showing disrespect to your authorities. You should actually want your leaders to succeed. You should be eager to help them fulfill their roles capably—your employers, pas- tors, law enforcement, elected officials. You will be to them like a rare breath of fresh air. Helping them to win actually sets you up to win their ear and gain their favor. Then if they make unwise decisions, respectfully appeal to them and pray for them, but maintain an attitude of Christlike honor even when you disagree (1 Timothy 2:1–4).
This is how we should treat those over us—with a clear conscience, in respectful ways—not only from a fear of God but as a witness and an example to our children. Our kids will most likely adopt our views on authority in their own lives as well. Whatever patterns we set for them will be the ones they use to train their own kids and so on.
Like everything else in life, authority must be seen through a biblical worldview. We fail both ourselves and our children when we react on feelings alone, when we run at the mouth instead of trusting God and running back to His Word for wisdom, guidance, and direction.
We are His creation. We are accountable to Him—both to love Him and to fear Him. Our lives, therefore, are not about our plans, desires, and opin- ions. We are not here for our own pleasure and preferences but to please God alone. Our families will degrade if we do not bring things like our attitude to- ward authority under the supreme authority of His Word and His purposes for us.
When you teach your children to honor authority, you are teaching them to better honor God. Consider what you’re modeling to your children in the area of honoring authority:
• When you’re at home, how do you talk about your leaders at work and church?
• What do your children hear you saying about the government or elected representatives? Even if you disagree with them, is your attitude respectful?
• Do they see you praying for your authorities? (1 Timothy 2:1–4) • How do they see you respond to speed limits and state troopers? • Does this match your talk about how God places authorities in
our lives for our benefit?
It has been said that what parents allow in moderation, their children will do in excess. So every generation of fathers must “be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them” (Deuteronomy 4:9 NIV), helping them not “forget his deeds” but to “keep his commands” (Psalm 78:7 NIV).
So obey the authorities in your life as unto the Lord. And teach your kids to do the same—as unto the Lord. It will help them obey you. If you don’t train them to respect authority, and then they in turn quit respecting you, you will lose your influence and everything that goes with it. Honoring authority is a hallmark of godly men and their children.
But how do you instill honor into your children? How do you train them to respect your authority as a parent, as well as that of other leaders?