Re:Verse passage – Romans 13:1-7 (day two)
Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor. v. 7
Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men,24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. Colossians 3:23-24
The passage for this week is easy to read when you like, believe, and trust the authorities. Whether it be a boss, a group leader, or a government, we tend to accept this as a good maxim. What happens, however, when we disagree or do not support those in leadership; this passage becomes a bit more uncomfortable, doesn’t it? Putting aside times for necessary civil disobedience, most of us find ourselves in a position of following people we don’t admire at some point. We often find a sick pleasure in making sure everyone is aware of our opposition and our displeasure. We might think that submitting to them would be some kind of betrayal to our way of thinking.
Paul ends this passage with a broad brush. Give them what they are due: tax, customs, fear…and honor. He later says in his letter to the church at Colosse that we should do everything as unto the Lord. This means how we treat others even when we don’t like them or agree with them. This may be a bitter pill to swallow, but how is your opposition helping your witness?
“We draw people to Christ not by loudly discrediting what they believe, by telling them how wrong they are and how right we are, but by showing them a light that is so lovely that they want with all their hearts to know the source of it.” Madeline L’Engle – Walking on Water
Discover more from The Everyday Prayer
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
