PRaP 6-23-2005

"Submitting to Authority"

Scripture is clear about this subject. We are to submit to man's law but
we are bound by God's law. Do not be confused by this statement. It is
not limited to the law that is written in the constitution and in the
thousands if not millions of laws written in the books at many law firms.
If you are told by your boss that you are to report to work at a specific
time every day, then you should report to that job at that time every day.
Not one minute after. Thankfully I work for an organization that says come
in when you want as long as you put in 40 hours per week we don't care.
That of course has limitations too. So they call it flex time. But also
consider when you have something that you purchased from a store and decide
that you do not need it. You must follow that stores return policy. It
goes with what we pay at the pump for gasoline. You can't go and fill up
your car and then go to the cashier and tell them you only want to pay $1
per gallon when the price is posted at $1.99 (Don't forget I am in Texas
and the gas seems to be cheaper here, LOL). Those of us who live in
apartment communities have a set of man's laws to follow too. No loud
music, not pets, no junk cars, no boats, etc... Taxes are a good
example, Matthew 17:24-27. Even Jesus submitted to the authority and paid
the temple tax. Again in Matthew 22:15-22 it speaks of paying tax to
Caesar. We can even go into "The Parable of The Talent" and see where two
of the three servants submitted to their master and put the talents to work
and the other did not and there was a consequence. You can find it at
Matthew 25:14-30. Lets look again at Matthew 5:17-20 Jesus did not come
to abolish the law but to fulfill it. In Matthew alone there are many many
passages that can be related to submitting to man's law. Matthew 5:33-37,
Matthew 5:38-42, Matthew 7:1-6, Matthew 8:18-22, Matthew 9:14-17, Matthew
15:1-20, Matthew 18:21-35, Matthew 21, 23-27, and Matthew 23:1-39. All
of the Gospels have these accounts in them. I think Paul hits it on the
head in Romans 2:17-29 and again in Romans 13:1-7. Over and over again and
again in the New Testament it speaks and shows examples even from Christ
Himself that we are to submit to the authorities of man's law. So next
time you are at Walmart and they tell you that it is against their policy
to do something, don't stand there and argue the point. Submit and humble
yourself. The Bible doesn't say we have to agree with it but we do have to
submit to it. You are not bound by man's law. You are bound by God's law.
You are called by God to submit to the authorities He has set in place in
this world even if you do not agree with it.

PRaP Romans 13:1-7 and if you want PRaP all the scriptures I have listed
and allow the Holy Spirit to guide you.