You’ve Got to Obey Your Government
1We all need to let the government govern us. Our leaders got where they are because God put them there. That’s true of every government leader.2So you should know that anyone who bucks the government is taking a stand against what God has set up. If you do that, you’re going to get punished for it. 3Good people who are well behaved don’t have anything to fear from their leaders. It’s the people who do wrong who should be afraid. If you don’t want to live in fear of your leaders, do what’s right. Your leaders will appreciate you for that.
4Government leaders are doing God’s work. They are trying to help you. But if you do things that you know are wrong, you have every right to be afraid. You should know that your leader doesn’t carry a sword just because it nicely accessorizes his outfit. He’s on assignment from God as an avenger who has full authority to punish someone who misbehaves. 5So obey the laws. Don’t do it just because you’re afraid of getting punished. Do it because you know in your heart that it’s the right thing to do. 6That’s why you should pay your taxes too. Government leaders are acting on assignment from God when they do their job. 7Pay everyone what you owe them. Pay your taxes. Pay your bills. Pay your respects to the people who deserve it. Honor the people who deserve it.
Law, Speaking to Love: “You Complete Me”
8There’s only one debt you should owe anyone: love. The whole point of the Jewish law is to help people learn to love each other.9Remember the Ten Commandments. “Don’t commit adultery. Don’t murder. Don’t steal. Don’t obsess over what others have and what you wish you had too.” These and the other commandments can be summed up in a single sentence. “Love others in the same way that you love yourself.” [1]
10Love is a pacifist. It doesn’t hurt anyone. Love is what completes the Law. It’s what the Law is all about.
Dress in Your Daytime Behavior
11Live your life like this. Do it because you know what time it is. It’s time to wake up from our sleep. The day of salvation is closer than it was when we first believed in Jesus. 12Night is just about over. Here comes the day. We need to stop doing the kinds of things people do under the cover of darkness. We need to dress for the light of day.13Let’s live a respectable life, as though it’s always daytime. Say no to getting drunk, going to wild parties, having sex with whoever is willing, getting into arguments, and stoking up jealousies. 14When our people look at you, let them see our leader, Jesus the Messiah. Don’t give sinful thoughts and temptations the time of day.
