Authority...and other scary words

The message from this past Sunday has been hitting home all week. And not just for me. As I have been talking with other folks the last couple of days, they have been wrestling with implications of the message as well.

My conversations with others this week has revealed that there are many of us who really struggle with submitting to authority. Respecting the chain of command and submitting to authority. Not just at work. Not just when the State Trooper is behind you in traffic.

Submitting to authority and obeying the rules. Not an easy task. I have come to realize that I have a real passive/aggressive streak when it comes to civil authority. And I bet you do too!

About 80% of the time, I do not wear my seatbelt. Yeah, stupid, I know. I should know better, especially after having been a professional driver for more years than I care to count.

The other area of "rebellion" against authority is in the area of the speed limit. I admit that I typically drive about 5 -7 miles an hour over the posted limited. And at that rate am still not keeping up with the flow of traffic.

Here is the really stupid part of all this. If I choose not to submit to wearing a seatbelt or driving the speed limit, by default I am choosing to submit to the consequences (whatever fines or injuries) of not respecting the chain of command. That could have pretty severe consequences for my family. At times I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer.

So...after many conversations and much reflection this week, I'm turning over a new leaf. The seatbelt will be on and the speed limit will be obeyed. Because as I have been thinking, it has come to mind that in order to be faithful in the big things, we need to be faithful in the little things. It is how we build our character and how God prepares us for the work He has in store for us. Surrendering to authority because God has established authority. He has authored the chain of command.

If we are unwilling to respect civil authority or our supervisors/managers at work, how does that play out in how we respect and obey God? I don't know about you, but I am more than just a little convicted.