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FEAR GOD, HONOUR THE EMPEROR (1 PETER 2: 13-17).

REFLECTION

“Fear God, honour the emperor” is the theme for our reflection. To fear God means to worship Him and live by His Word. To honour a person means to regard him or her with great respect. Honour the emperor means regarding him with great respect. We shall reflect on the fact that as Christian citizens and foreigners or aliens, we must fear God and honour the government or those in authority.

Beloved in the Lord, we are admonished by Peter to fear God and honour the emperor. (1 Peter 2:17) How do we fear God? Fearing God does not mean we should be afraid of God like Adam and Eve who sinned and tried to hide from God out of fear and guilt. To fear God means we must worship, obey and serve Him as our creator, giver of life and judge. King Solomon having observed life, concluded “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. 14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14) On the other hand, we are admonished to honour the Emperor. In other words, we must have great respect for the government and anyone placed in the position of authority to represent the government in maintaining law and order. Peter wrote, “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right” (1 Peter 2:13-14) Jesus also taught us to fear God and honour our leaders or the government when He said to the Pharisees and Herodians, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” (Mark 12:17) on the issue of paying taxes.

Beloved in the Lord, we must fear God because He is eternal, “the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. (Revelation 21:6). Again, we must fear God because He establishes human government and has the power to appoint and remove leaders. On the other hand, we have to honour leaders because their tenure is temporary, subservient to God and has been established by God for the governance of people. It is for this reason Paul wrote ” Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience. 6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. 7 Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honour, then honour.” (Romans 13:1-7). We see the example of David honouring King Saul irrespective of the fact that King Saul planned to kill him, David said to King Saul “This day you have seen with your own eyes how the LORD delivered you into my hands in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, ‘I will not lay my hand on my lord, because he is the LORD’s anointed.” (1 Samuel 24:10). We are allowed to constructively criticise leaders or the acts of government through its officials but we must continue to give honour to whom honour is due.

In summary, we have discovered as Christian citizens or foreigners or aliens we must fear God and honour the government or those in authority wherever we find ourselves.  

PRAYER

May the Holy Spirit grant us the ability to fear God and enable us to honour and cooperate with those in authority to govern for the common good of all. Amen.