Authority, we hate it!

               I have a young man on the bus. He struggles with following directions. For a time his mantra was he had rights. Whatever the instruction was that violated his rights. Children have few rights until they are adults. That did not matter. Recently his objection to instructions was, “You are not my Dad.” He was speaking to me. That is true. I am not his Dad. I did bite my tongue before I said if I were, we would not be having this discussion. I reminded him that I was responsible for him while he was on the bus and therefore had authority and responsibility over and for him. He did not like that either.

Truth is we don’t like authority. We don’t like being told what to do. Adam and Eve come to mind. We see it as an enemy to our individuality and yet there are always those in authority over us for something. Sometimes those in authority have no title or position. Consider how a 4 year old can hold a family hostage by their behavior or when someone else’s mother uses three names. I’ve seen grown men stop and shudder.

                It’s not different in our home. We wrestle with authority on a daily basis. It is in our DNA I guess. Maybe it’s our understanding of authority and it’s definition. In the first part of the year as I was in the car going to Statesboro on a daily basis I heard one program where the interviewee spoke of the word submit found in Ephesians 5

²² Wives, submit to your own husbands as to the Lord, ²³ for the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of the body. ²⁴ Now as the church submits to Christ, so wives are to submit to their husbands in everything. Ephesians 5:22-24 HCSB

The word in Greek hypotasso̅ translated “submit” means to place or arrange under. Consider with me if it was raining and I offer you a spot under my open umbrella. To come under my umbrella you would submit to my offer of coverage and protection from the rain. That is when we freely and willingly “submit” to the authority of the umbrella. You know we then stand closer and go where they want to all to keep from getting wet. We really hate authority and the idea of submitting to anything or anyone. This idea of submitting to a husband will make many women bristle and say “you are not my Dad.” For husbands to submit their desires to the needs and wants of their wives and families provokes a baulk and a shout, “you are not my Dad.” Children talk back, “you are not my Dad.” At the end of the day we are rebelling to the authority of God and those he places in authority over us in our lives. It really is us yelling at God, “YOU ARE NOT MY DAD.” Ouch!

Let’s consider some benefits of submitting to God’s authority. His authority provides security, service and serenity Security because well…He is God. If God is for us who can be against us? Service in that under His umbrella we have the opportunity to be all that He has made us to be. Service is a blessing of unequaled value. Thirdly Serenity, if you are under His umbrella the “monkey is on His back” so to say. He is in charge. Oops there it is “in charge.” The ultimate question of who is in charge. Who has authority over you? The daily question is, “Will I submit to my Dad’s authority by coming under His umbrella?” Paul goes on, “Submit to one another in fear of Christ.” Ephesians 5:21 HCSB.

In HIS Service and Yours

Bro G