Respect frames civilized living and refined society. Healthy stable families are erected on respect. Lack of respect corrodes and decays civilization. Of the Ten Commandments, four relate to treatment of God and the remaining six speak to treatment of people. Those commands boil down to an issue of respect, particularly a respect of authority.
We are to respect authority. The Bible draw attention to at least four types of authority: Divine authority, civil (governmental) authority, church (ecclesiastical) authority, and parental authority.
#1 DIVINE AUTHORITY
Divine authority is God’s possession. God’s your friend, but He’s not your “buddy”. He is to be respected. We are all to live in the reverential fear and respect of the Lord.
Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matthew 28:18). This authority is in part delegated or entrusted to other spheres of authority on earth.
#2 CIVIL AUTHORITY
Paul commands believers to submit and to respect governing authorities:
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. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. (Romans 13:1-7 NIV)
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#3 CHURCH AUTHORITY
The writer of Hebrews addresses the submissive respect of believers to church leaders. “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 NIV)
#4 PARENTAL AUTHORITY
Respect for parental authority yields blessings.
Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise: If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.” (Ephesians 6:1-3 NLT)
The home is where the foundation for learning to respect authority. A child’s homelife either strengthens or weakens respect for authority. Parents must pass respect for authority on to their children.
I want my daughters to appreciate God-ordained authority.
