Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you. The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong. So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience. Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do. Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority.
Romans 13:1-7 NLT
Government workers are servants of God. This doesn’t mean that God is in favor of every government or that every decision made is godly. It means God is in favor of safety, order, and what is right. Authorities are in place to enforce what is right because people so often want to do what is wrong. We are called by the Lord to pay our taxes and follow those in government authority. The Church has also been given authority on earth by God, especially in areas of sin, truth, morality, judgment, and justice (see Matt 16:19; Mark 12:17; John 20:23; 1 Tim 3:15). Ideally, Church and State should respect each other’s authority, making society better.
The Bible teaches that there are times when we must stand against authority (Acts 5:29; Rev 13:1-18). The early Christians did all they could to follow Roman law, but they would not say “Caesar is Lord,” they refused to stop worshiping, and they would not deny Jesus—even when it meant torture or death. There are Christians around the world today being persecuted by governments for their faith in Jesus. Pray for Christians who are being persecuted, pray for governments to do what is right and allow freedom in faith, and pray for yourself to stand for Jesus and what is right—no matter what the cost.
Why is it important to pray for our government workers? What difference does it make to follow God’s law as the highest law?
