Respect and submit to authority (1)

Until you learn to submit to authority, you will never be qualified to exercise it. Why? First, because you will have no credibility, and second, because you won’t really understand what it means to be a follower. Today the entertainment industry glamorizes rebels and turns them into heroes. But that’s not how it works in everyday life. An insubordinate attitude will buy you a one-way ticket to a life of trouble and failure. The Bible says this: (1) Children must be taught to submit to the authority of their parents. “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honor your father and mother,’ which is the first commandment with promise: ‘that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth’” (Ephesians 6:1-3 NKJV). (2) Wives are called to submit to the leadership of their husbands. (And husbands must prove worthy of that role and take responsibility for it.) “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:22 NKJV). (3) Church members are called to submit to the leadership of their pastor. “Obey those who have the rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account.” (4) Citizens are called to submit to their government. “The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted” (Romans 13:1-2 NIV). “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority…This is good, and pleases our Savior” (1 Timothy 2:1-3 NIV).