Authority
Who are we to respect?
The word respect according to the dictionary means “due regards for the feelings, wishes, rights, or traditions of others.”Who are we to respect?
Top of the list is God, who is behind all human authority. Respect for God means obeying Him, having submissive reverence for Him and holding God in high esteem.
Respect for God, includes respect for the church and the leaders He has put in positions of leadership both spiritual and secular and most importantly obedience to His word (John17v17).
Romans13verse7 says, “Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.” KJV
The New Living Translation puts it this way “…give respect and honour to those who are in authority.”
Respect for church leadership which are pastors and help ministers means you respect their positions by respecting the persons God has put in these positions (Rom.13v7). This includes praying for them, walking in love towards them, obeying them, not criticizing them and sowing into their lives.
Respect for parents is emphasized in Eph. 6v1. Children are told to obey their parents, not contrary to God’s word and Eph. 6v2 says honour them. The word honour here includes the idea of respect, which involves praying for them, rendering help to them and having a good attitude towards them.
Respect for social authority which includes your teachers, lecturers, principals, and boss etc means having a good attitude towards them.
1Peter2:18 says, “Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the forward.”
Don’t participate in gossip, backbiting and criticizing. Do not belittle them. This is a sign of disrespect. (1Peter 2v18, Col. 3v22-25, Titus 2v9:10)
The book of Colossians3:24 says, “Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.” (NLT)
Respect for husbands by wives means that wives do not undermine the authority of their husbands. Wives should be good to their husbands, honour them, esteem them, appreciate them, praise them, love and admire them (1Peter 3v1, 7; Eph. 5v33 AMP).
Respect for civil authority which includes the President, Local and Federal governments, Judicial Systems and Police etc. means being a good law abiding citizen, obeying the laws, paying your taxes and praying for them etc. (1Peter2v13-17; Matt.22v15-23; Mk.12v13-17; Rom13v1-7; 1Tim.2:1,2). God ordained these governing authorities and obeying them is obeying God.
As you show respect for God and human authorities He has put in place, you are sowing seeds that will produce a harvest for your life (Matt.5v16).
1Peter2:13-17 says, “For the Lord’s sake, respect all human authority- whether the king as head of state, or the officials he has appointed… It is God’s will that your honourable lives should silence those ignorant people… Respect everyone, and love your Christian brothers and sisters. Fear God, and respect the king.” NLT
- Who are we to respect?