THERE’S BEAUTY IN GOD’S ORDER

There’s much to ponder about one’s relationship with the world around us. Image credit: *NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE* on Unsplash.

By the word ‘order’ I do not mean command, but arrangement. I’m thinking here of the authority structures God has so arranged for us to live by, unto blessing: king and citizen, employer and employee, teacher and student, parent and child, husband and wife. God arranges these relationships for the benefit and well-being of society. He did so from the very beginning of the world.

The problem comes when one abuses or misuses his or her authority. Then life becomes ugly.

Relationships break. Hurt and pain set in. Abuse or misuse of authority can happen in at least one of two ways. One way is to locate the origin of authority in the person himself. It begins and ends with him. So he exercises authority as he himself sees fit. We call this abuse of God-given authority – authoritarianism or totalitarianism. These are big words, but simply put, authority is used to ‘lord it over’ someone. It serves self, and often results in unfair advantage or brute force.

The other extreme is to do away with authority altogether. We call this ‘egalitarianism’; a school of thought that says equality means removing all authority structures in society. For example, suppose father and mother say to their children, “You can do what you want. You are your own boss.” Not only would parents be neglecting their children but the lack of authority would bring disorder and mayhem into the home and society. Authority is not removed; it is only misplaced. It is handed over to the child.

In either extreme, the ultimate authority resides in the person himself. If this how we think, we then misunderstand authority and its sinful uses are wide open. So much hurt and pain in our society stems from the misuse and abuse of authority.

The Bible is clear that God is the ultimate authority. All authority resides in Him. But He delegates His authority to prime ministers, teachers, employers, parents and husbands. But it’s an authority to serve, and to serve under God, submitting to Him and HIs Word.

By submitting to Christ in faith, God restores us to a rightful relationship with Him so that we may properly exercise the authority God delegates to us in a loving, protective way, a way in which we lay down our lives for those we serve.

Christ is the hope. In Him, the beauty of God’s order begins to shine again in blessings for all.

HOPE TRIUMPHS

THERE’S BEAUTY IN GOD’S ORDER