By Each of us have a list of things we expect from our government. Some of the items of the list might even be the things in Scripture that God expects from governments. But Scripture also lists things that God expects from Christians in response to their governments.
The government might not fear the Lord and fulfil what He expects from them, but, as Christians, we still ought to fear the Lord ourselves and fulfil what He expects from us in relation to our government. We have a moral obligation to God regarding our government.
Proverbs 24:21-22 and Proverbs 20:2 call us to respect our government simply because it wields authority. This wisely cautions us against rebellion and disobedience. It is only a fool who rebels against a power greater than himself. (Cf. Ecclesiastes 8:2-4; Romans 13:1-5; 1 Peter 2:13-17)
Proverbs 23:1-3 and Proverbs 25:6-7 call us to be moderate in our dealings with the government. Be it a routine traffic inspection, a home-affairs visit, a voting registration, or a SARS phone call, be cautiously humble in all your engagements with the government.
Proverbs 25:15 calls us to diplomacy. We have the privilege of appeal and casting a vote, but it ought to be governed with mature godliness. Christians are not to be found among rioters and vandalisers. Neither are we to be those who threaten and slander government service personnel.
Meditate on this, and come back tomorrow for a few more things to consider in your God-given duties to the government irrespective of what they do or do not do.
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