Pleasing God, Making Disciples of Jesus Christ

Living Under Authority

JUDGES 17:6 – In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”

We were created to be under authority, God’s authority. No human being is exempt from this truth. No one was created to live independent, self-willed, self-made, and absent from being under authority. When a nation, church, family, and life refuse this divine order, chaos, confusion, and destruction follow. Guaranteed. What happened in the Garden of Eden was rebellion against God’s authority. The Lord said, “Don’t eat” and our first parents said, “Yes, I will” and this rebellion brought misery into every human life since.

Yet, we are called sheep for at least two reasons. We are slow to learn, stubborn, and that applies to our response to authority. Even as Christians, we rebel against authority. Hopefully, this isn’t willful rebellion, but our remaining sin within us tempts us to inwardly fight against authority. Who has not had tense moments of resistance in a marriage? What about a child that pushes back on parental authority? And churches? Too many times preferences not followed become points of contention against a church’s rightful authority–elders, and maybe even the Word of the Lord itself. All these acts and more of rebellion against authority are the result of sin, and for the Christian, the daily battle of remaining sin.

So, how may we do battle against our inward resistance to rightful authority in our society, families, churches, and relationships such as marriages? One thing to consider, and it really is the root cause of all rebellion. It is found at the end of today’s verse–Everyone did what was right in his own eyes. The reasons why we rebel against authority are two. First, we don’t like being told what to do and next, we think we know best despite what we are being told.

In today’s scripture, the people of Israel decided to do whatever they wanted based on their own understanding. I hope the hair on the back of our necks is rising! We would like to sit down with these Israelites and yell, “Stop. Don’t listen to yourselves. Don’t go there. Danger. Danger. You are heading down a path of self-destruction.” Well, maybe, instead of wanting to correct them, we may want to sit down in front of the mirror and do some “self-talk”. And that regularly. It is so easy to be self-deceived and self-justifying in our rebellion against authority, even God’s authority. What Christian hasn’t made excuses for disobedience? Think about it. Have we ever not obeyed what we know God commands of us because it was hard, uncomfortable, humbling, and simply against our own desires and wills? Let’s call what such attitudes and actions are–sinful rebellion against authority.

To overcome our rebellious streak in us, we need to do at least two things. First, realize we are created and saved to live under authority. To live contrary to the created order is to go against our reason for existing. Next, refuse to lean on and trust ourselves. And let these words of Solomon, serious words of Solomon, show us why we must not trust ourselves – He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, But he who walks wisely will be delivered (Proverbs 28:26). Remember, the safest place to be is living with glad submission to the authority of the Lord Jesus.

PRAYER: “Father, forgive me when I choose to live according to my will and desires and not Yours.”

QUOTE: “Living under the conscious authority of the Lord Jesus is the safest and best place to be.”

Because of Him,

Pastor Jim