Amelia Church of Christ - Christian Church in Amelia, OH near Cincinnati in Clermont County

Welcome to the first message in a short, two-week series called God at Work. The series is going to lead us right up to the Labor Day holiday, when a lot of us will take a break from work for family gatherings and cookouts.

But don’t take the short-length of this series to mean that it’s short on importance. The series may be brief, but the truths that we’ll discover over the next two weeks are crucial to living our lives in a way that honors Jesus.

The question we’re asking over the next couple of weeks is, “How does God want me to live while I’m at work? How can I glorify him while I’m on the job?”

Like it or not, most of us have to work. We punch a time clock, put in our 40+ hours, collect our paycheck, and fight rush hour traffic to get home. Then we get up the next morning and do it all over again. For a lot of us, it’s a monotonous grind.

Now, I’m privileged to love my job. Honestly, I can’t believe that I get to do what I do. Preaching is my passion AND my paycheck. That’s hard to beat.

But if you absolutely hate your job, I can relate. I haven’t always loved my job. I used to work for a construction company. I quickly found out that construction was not my calling.

During my time with that company, one of the guys I worked for tried to teach me how to wire electrical outlets. Simple, right? I spent two days doing nothing but wiring electrical outlets. Two days later, the company’s electrician walks in, takes one look at me, and says, “So you’re the one who screwed this job up! Every breaker in this house is kicked off because you don’t know what you’re doing. I’ve got to redo the whole house. Here’s a broom, genius. Go sweep.” Not a good day.

My short time with the construction company also threw a lot of business to the local hospital. I landed in the emergency room, not once, not twice, but three times as a result of my construction job. I am Tim Taylor in the flesh!

I will never be able to straighten out my left pinky because I broke it on the job. I have some scars on my right wrist where I almost cut my hand off, literally, when I was tearing out a huge, old window. (One good thing about telling these stories is that no one will ever ask me to help them with a home improvement project!) It was unquestionably the worst job I’ve ever had. I was no good at it. I hated every minute of it.

I hope you love your job. It’s an incredible blessing to be passionate about what you do. Bit if you’re among the millions of people who hate their job, I can relate to that, too.

But honestly, whether we love or hate our job is irrelevant in regard to the truth that God is going to teach us over the next couple of weeks. It just doesn’t matter. Either way, love your job or hate your job, you can glorify God at your job.

In this series we’re going to tackle two problem areas that a lot of us struggle with at work. This week we’re going to focus on accepting authority.

If you have a job, then you have a boss. Even those of you who are a boss, you know that there is the boss’ boss. You may have people under you, but you also have people over you. We all work under authority at some level in our jobs. How we relate to our boss, how we react to those in authority over us, says a lot about our spiritual maturity.

Let’s get into God’s Word. In Romans 13, the Bible says, “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.

Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. (Romans 13:1-2, NIV)

Specifically in this text, the Apostle Paul is writing about the authority of government and how a disciple of Jesus relates to the government. But there are larger principles here that we’re going to discover today. The principles taught in these verses about the government easily apply to all other forms of authority in our lives, including those who are in authority over us in our jobs.

Authority isn’t exactly popular in our culture, but that’s nothing new. Back in 1971, John Lennon said in an interview, “I’d like to incite people to break the framework, to be disobedient in school, to stick their tongues out, to keep insulting authority.”

Antiauthoritarianism is nothing new in our culture. But when we measure current attitudes about authority against the truth of Scripture, we come away with a different perspective.

Authority is God’s idea. It’s his creation, his design. And knowing that makes a difference in our lives and in our jobs.

Let’s go back to our focus text. The Bible says, “…there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.” (Romans 13:1b, NIV)

God established all authority. It all comes from him. God’s design for his creation has always included authority. The superior/subordinate design was set up by God.

The whole movement of antiauthoritarianism, just reject any and all authority, is contrary to this foundational principle of God’s creation. His design is for us to live under various levels of authority.

Now, look at this verse again. We need to notice the complete absence of qualifiers. Romans says that, “The authorities that exist have been established by God.”

There’s no qualifier here. It doesn’t say, “The good authorities have been established by God.” It says that all authority has been established by God.

Here’s what that means for us. Even if your boss is a jerk, his position of authority was established by God. Is your boss an idiot, or dishonest, or a loud-mouthed know-it-all? His position of authority was established by God.

Some people take these verses from Romans to mean that God specifically chooses individuals for specific positions of authority. No doubt that God can do that if he so chooses. And he has done that in the past. But more than that, the principle of these verses teach that it is the positions of authority that are established by God. Your boss may not be God’s man or God’s woman, but they are in a God-given authority position. And knowing that changes our perspective.

Authority was God’s idea. And because authority was God’s idea, then accepting that authority is our response. But how does that happen?

The book of Romans teaches us that accepting authority is an inside job. In other words, accepting authority in a way that honors God starts in my heart, and then works its way out.

Look at what Paul commands us to do in Romans 13. “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities…” (Romans 13:1a, NIV)

Sometimes one of the best ways to understand what the Bible says is by thinking about what it doesn’t say. Think about Paul’s choice of words here.

He said that we are to “submit” to authority. Did you notice that he didn’t say that we are to “obey” authority? You know why? Because outward obedience of authority is too small. It goes deeper than that. Paul said that we are to submit to authority. You can obey without being submissive. But you can’t submit without obedience. Make sense?

This thing is bigger than obedience. It’s bigger than just doing what you’re told. Think about it. Your boss comes in and drops this huge new project on your desk. He looks at you and says, “Have it to me by the end of the week.”

You bust it all week to get it done because, if you don’t, you’ll be in trouble. Maybe you’ll be reprimanded, demoted, or fired. Whatever the motivation, you obey your boss’ directive. But all the time on the inside, you’re thinking things like, “I wonder how much jail time I would get for cutting the brake lines on his car. I don’t think a jury in the world would convict me.”

You obeyed, with a complete lack of submission. And for most of us, that’s usually good enough. We say, “Hey, I got the job done. I did it well. What more do you want?”

God has an answer to that question. “What more do you want?” God says, “I want your heart.”

Accepting authority is not a work issue. It’s a heart issue. And that’s why Paul uses the word “submit.”

“Submit to authority.” Obedience is all on the outside. Submission is inside and outside. Obedience is actions. Submission is actions AND attitude. Obedience shows up with your hands. Submission shows up in your hands AND your heart.

In our jobs, God hasn’t called us to obey authority. He has called us to take it further…submit to authority.

This doesn’t require you to like your boss. Maybe you do, and that’s great. If you actually like who you work for, count that as a blessing from God. I actually have three bosses in my job. Our elders here at Amelia are my bosses. And I’m blessed because I really like my bosses.

Some of you aren’t in that boat. You just don’t like your boss…and you don’t have to. You don’t have to like those in authority to submit to their authority.

Check out these verses from 1 Peter. “Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men…For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.

Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.” (1 Peter 2:13a, 15-17, NIV)

Did you catch some of the key phrases? Submit to authority for the Lord’s sake. It is God’s will. Live as servants of God.

In other words, you don’t submit to authority because you like your boss. You submit to authority because you love God.

I remember one particular job I had where my boss really was a jerk. He was the proverbial “my way or the highway” kind of guy. We ended up clashing pretty bad. He said some things about me in one particular meeting that were some of the nastiest, harshest words I’ve ever received. I know because I was sitting in that meeting.

I wasn’t completely without fault, though. I didn’t respect him. I didn’t honor him. I didn’t submit to him. After all, he didn’t deserve it. But here’s what I missed. I failed to realize that my submission to his authority wasn’t based on what I thought about him. It was based on what I thought about Jesus. I needed to submit to him, not because he was worthy, but because Jesus is worthy.

In his new book, Wild Goose Chase, Mark Batterson wrote about how Christians react in bad job situations. “You have no idea how to get from where you are to where you want to be. You don’t like your job. You don’t like your boss. You don’t like your prospects. And the passion has been sucked out of your spirit…What do you do in those situations or seasons?

Don’t whine. Don’t complain. And don’t check out. Make the most of the situation. Do little things like they are big things. Keep a good attitude. And faithfully carry out your current obligations. If your job isn’t exciting, then bring some excitement to the job. One of the greatest acts of worship is keeping a good attitude in a bad situation. And doing a good job at a bad job honors God.”

Ultimately, when you give your very best at work, when you endure hard, monotonous, or painful times, when you submit to your boss even though they don’t deserve it…ultimately you’re doing it as an act of worship. You’re doing it for God.

The Bible tells us that, “The authorities that exist have been established by God.” (Romans 13:1b, NIV)

And because that’s true, the Bible tells us to, “Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men…” (1 Peter 2:13a, NIV)

God established the positions of authority over you. And when you respect them, honor them, and submit to them, whether they deserve it or not, God notices. He is honored and pleased with that. He will accept it as a faithful act of worship.

Colossians 3 sums it up better than I can. “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” (Colossians 3:23-24, NIV)

As Christ-followers, we submit to authority because we submit to Jesus. And at the end of the day, we realize that everything we do, we do for him.

Now, as we go back to our focus text in Romans 13, we see the flipside of this truth come into focus. Instead of accepting and submitting to authority, some of us choose to reject it. Rejecting authority comes with consequences.

Our text says, “The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.” (Romans 13:1b-2, NIV)

God set up the positions of authority over us. And so when we reject that authority, God takes that personally. It is a rejection of what God has put in place.

In his commentary on Romans, Jack Cottrell wrote, “Since all human authority ultimately derives from God, those who rebel against authority are really rebelling against God himself.” And God promises that if we rebel against the authority he put in place, we’re inviting judgment against ourselves.

The original meaning of the text seems to point toward the final judgment. If we persistently reject those in authority over us, then God’s judgment will be against us when we stand before him.

This is big time stuff. Don’t gloss over this. Apparently God takes this authority stuff very seriously. He promises judgment to those who reject it.

But I also wonder if there is a second way to see this. When we reject authority, maybe the judgment we bring on ourselves doesn’t just come from God, but also from other people.

Think about it. People at your job know you’re a Christian. They know you’re one of those “church people.” And so they keep their eyes on you. They listen to what comes out of your mouth. They observe your attitude.

What do they see from you when it comes to they way you react to your boss? Do they hear you constantly complaining about her? Do they see you undermining his authority? Do they watch as you constantly “get away with it” when the boss isn’t looking?

If so, then God’s judgment isn’t the only one you need to fear. You’ve also been judged by the people you work with. They will judge that, “I don’t need church. This Christian really isn’t any different from me.”

When it comes to our relationship with those in authority over us, the stakes are very high. Rejecting authority has consequences. It invites judgment from God and from those who are watching us.

And really, this extends beyond the job. It goes for any authority in our lives.

There is an authority structure in the family. The Bible says, “Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.” (Colossians 3:18-21, NIV)

God has placed the mantle of spiritual leadership in the family on men. And it’s a heavy weight to carry. Wives, kids, how do people see you responding to his authority?

Wives, are you constantly undercutting your husband? Bashing him to your friends? Usurping his leadership with your kids?

Your husband will answer to God for his leadership. If he is harsh or neglectful, he will be accountable for that. Wives, you will answer to God for how you responded to his authority.

Kids, teens, did you see what the Bible said to you? Obey your parents in EVERYTHING. Your mom and dad are your boss. Period. And God has called you to submit to their authority. How do your friends, especially your friends who are outside of Christ, hear you talking about your parents? Do they see you rejecting their authority, disobeying, disrespecting, and dishonoring them?

Your mom and dad will stand before God and answer for how they raised you. You will be held accountable for how you responded to their authority.

God also set up an authority structure in the church. God said, “Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.” (Hebrews 13:17, NIV)

There is an authority structure in the church. Here at Amelia, we have a leadership team and a staff who strive to lead our church where God wants us to go. And this verse says very plainly that we will have to give an account for our leadership. I will stand before God and answer for my leadership. So will every staff member, every elder, and every deacon in our church. We will answer to God for our leadership.

Those in the church will answer for how they responded to the leaders in authority. Do you submit to the authority of your church leaders? Or do you gossip about them? Tear them down? Try to undermine their leadership because you didn’t like a particular decision? Refuse to support them because of differences of preference? Church leaders will answer to God for how they led. Church members will answer to God for how they responded to the leadership.

God has also set up a system of authority called government. Romans says, “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities…” (Romans 13:1a, NIV)

God created governmental authority. And he has called us to be submissive to that authority unless governmental laws undermine the laws of God. Other than that, we are called to submit to the government’s authority.

So how does it look when a Christ-follower ignores the speed limit because “there are no cops around?” Or fudges on their taxes because “Uncle Sam already takes enough?” Or steals something from the office because “nobody will ever miss it?”

The Bible says that all authority positions were created by God. And when we reject that authority, in our family, in our church, in our government, or in our job, God says that we are inviting judgment on ourselves. There will be consequences.

Are you ready to stand before God and answer for how you treated those in authority over you? Or do you have some changes to make?

Later on in Romans 13, Paul writes, “Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.” (Romans 13:7, NIV)

This is a great verse to describe how we relate to every level of authority in our lives. Especially the last two. Respect and honor. That’s the picture of how a Christ-follower relates to authority. Respect and honor. That describes how you relate to authority in your family, authority in your church, and like we’ve been talking about all morning, authority in your job.

Eileen Daily wrote, “Look for ways to honor or uplift your boss. This doesn’t mean obsequious gifts or flattery, but an honest look from the boss’ perspective. You honor your boss when you immediately own up to a mistake. You honor him when you are part of the solution in the work place rather than the problem. When given a job—even one you hate—tackle it immediately and cheerfully. This is appropriate submission.”

This is tough stuff we’ve talked about today. But it’s critically important. How we relate to authority really goes a long way to determine how far we’ll go spiritually.

We don’t think of how we relate to our boss as a spiritual thing, but it absolutely is. Don’t just define spirituality as praying or studying the Bible. I’ve met a lot of people who pray and do all kinds of Bible studies, and yet constantly dishonor those in authority. And Biblically speaking, that person is spiritual baby.

Spirituality isn’t just studying what the Bible says. It is living it out. And the Bible tells us to submit to those in authority over us.

Some of you have really messed this up. Maybe you need to have an honest conversation with your boss tomorrow. Maybe you need to own up to a wrong attitude toward authority with your co-workers. Maybe you need to view tomorrow as a new chance to get it right when you get to work.

The beautiful thing is that you have another chance. You have another chance because of Jesus.

In Matthew 28, Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” (Matthew 28:18, NIV)

All what? Authority. All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Jesus. Everyone, whether they know it or not, whether they like it or not, is living under the authority of Jesus.

But he’s a good boss. He is gracious. He is forgiving. And he gives all of us a second chance when we mess things up.

Mike Edmisten

Tags: God@Work, authority, Romans 13, submission, work