Modern Woman. Modern Life. And GodSýnishorn

Relating to Authority

Authority is necessary in order to operate a business of any kind. Therefore, people in positions of authority are part of God’s plan for orderliness in the world. We are directed to submit ourselves to the people who have risen to those positions of directing work to be done. To rebel against that authority is to rebel against God’s order, which, according to Paul, will bring God’s judgment on us (Jdg 21:25). The authority over us may even be incompetent or inadequate in some way, but that authority is to be respected. Obviously there have been and are people in positions of authority who should never be there. But that was true when Paul wrote his letter to the Romans. The principle still holds true: we may not respect the people themselves, but we must respect their authority. Only when that authority would lead us to compromise Christian principles should we refuse to submit (Mt 22:17–21).

Submission is yielding to the authority of another. Respecting someone means, in part, to treat with consideration. Both can be done contrary to feelings, by an act of the will, especially when empowered by the Holy Spirit. Peter teaches that the servant—the employee—should perform job-related tasks with excellence, even in the face of unfair treatment. Peter goes on to say that it is commendable to bear up under unfair treatment, for that kind of suffering finds favor with God (v. 20).

Unjust suffering is precious to God because that is how Christ suffered, and when believers endure unjust treatment with patience and tolerance, they are sharing in his suffering. No one in the flesh wants to suffer unjustly. But when they desire to follow in the steps of Christ and find favor with God, they can endure and discover in the process a closer relationship to our Savior.

When this principle is applied to difficult management relationships, God changes our thinking and our attitudes so that much of the stress and frustration of the relationship are relieved. God has told us that his yoke is easy and his burden is light. Accepting it from God’s hands and letting him guide our reactions—even to the point of suffering unjustly—is easier than the normal human reactions of anger, bitterness and vengeance.