There are certain Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego; these men, O king, have not paid due regard to you. They do not serve your gods or worship the gold image which you have set up.
Daniel 3:12
Do you submit to authority? Submission is an often-misunderstood area in a Christian’s life, but the Bible is full of examples for us to follow and learn from.
Daniel and his friends were servants in the Babylonian empire, but they continued to obey God and follow His commandments, even while serving among a pagan nation. They refused the food that was served to the eunuchs out of obedience to God (Dan. 1:8), and they refused to worship the golden statue when the leaders of all the nations gathered.
They were not disrespectful in their disobedience, but they were firm in their decision: even if God did not rescue them from the king’s hands, they would serve and obey Him above all others (Dan. 3:18). “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God” (Rom. 13:1).
We are to submit: to our pastors, our leaders, those in government and all those in authority, but never at the expense of our obedience to the Lord. We subject ourselves to authority, fearful of punishment for wrong-doing and respectful of the power they were placed in by the Lord. We have no fear of those in authority when we do what’s right, because rulers do not come against good works, but evil (Rom. 13:3).
Jesus was not crucified for His good works, and Paul was not persecuted for his. It’s the preaching of the truth that offends, not the good works that come from a submitted life in Christ. I ask again, do you submit?
Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God…
Romans 13:2
