God knows we live in an imperfect world.  God who loves us and delights in the details of our everyday lives provides how to live in this world while loving Him back and loving others like He loves us.  God’s Holy Spirit works through Paul, a good Roman citizen, born and raised in the Jewish faith, to clearly outline what is means to be a redeemed believer in Jesus in this imperfect world. 

Paul dives into the details and gives new believers wisdom to turn from their rebellious ways of grumbling and complaining about the oppressive Roman government they must live under with the opposite attitude of “be a responsible citizen”!  Paul says God will hold us responsible for being a good citizen! 

Stop and really think about it, isn’t this “being a good citizen” an example of living an obedient life for others to see who don’t know God? We work to be a good citizen, obey the rules, stay out of trouble, so we can show the love of God to those who need a Savior in their lives.  By our lives of love, they will see God reflected in our lives. 

God is over all and in all—even our governments.  In our country, we must do our part to vote, serve, uphold the law, and get along with others.  With this attitude, we don’t obey the laws of government just to avoid punishment but because it is the right way to live—according to God.  If we love God, we will obey what He says.

And God delights in the details of our lives…

Romans 13, The Message

To Be a Responsible Citizen

^1-3 Be a good citizen. All governments are under God. Insofar as there is peace and order, it’s God’s order. So live responsibly as a citizen. If you’re irresponsible to the state, then you’re irresponsible with God, and God will hold you responsible. Duly constituted authorities are only a threat if you’re trying to get by with something. Decent citizens should have nothing to fear.

^3-5 Do you want to be on good terms with the government? Be a responsible citizen and you’ll get on just fine, the government working to your advantage. But if you’re breaking the rules right and left, watch out. The police aren’t there just to be admired in their uniforms. God also has an interest in keeping order, and he uses them to do it. That’s why you must live responsibly—not just to avoid punishment but also because it’s the right way to live.

^6-7 That’s also why you pay taxes—so that an orderly way of life can be maintained. Fulfill your obligations as a citizen. Pay your taxes, pay your bills, respect your leaders.

* * *

^8-10 Don’t run up debts, except for the huge debt of love you owe each other. When you love others, you complete what the law has been after all along. The law code—don’t sleep with another person’s spouse, don’t take someone’s life, don’t take what isn’t yours, don’t always be wanting what you don’t have, and any other “don’t” you can think of—finally adds up to this: Love other people as well as you do yourself. You can’t go wrong when you love others. When you add up everything in the law code, the sum total is love.

^11-14 But make sure that you don’t get so absorbed and exhausted in taking care of all your day-by-day obligations that you lose track of the time and doze off, oblivious to God. The night is about over, dawn is about to break. Be up and awake to what God is doing! God is putting the finishing touches on the salvation work he began when we first believed. We can’t afford to waste a minute, must not squander these precious daylight hours in frivolity and indulgence, in sleeping around and dissipation, in bickering and grabbing everything in sight. Get out of bed and get dressed! Don’t loiter and linger, waiting until the very last minute. Dress yourselves in Christ, and be up and about!

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Be a good citizen for it is God will and God will help us in all the details.  Avoid extra debt so we are not enslaved to a debtor.  Avoid paying “extra” for goods with interest charges.  Be cautious when borrowing for housing.  Think of your goals.  Ask for God’s wisdom.  Ask yourself, if a financial crisis occurs, can I sell this and pay the debt I owe.  Remember God delights in the details of life—go to God for all of life!  He loves to help us!

Be generous with the love God has given us.  As were freely given love and forgiveness—freely give it.  It’s what God expects.  It’s what Jesus taught us.  And it’s for our best and gives God glory—the originator of real life and real love!

God first. God in the middle.  God at the end.  Pray without ceasing means we are in constant communion with God assured that will listen and guide us.  Spend time with God, unscheduled and free, throughout each day.  The result is a peace that the world does not know until they accept Jesus and have the peace of Christ in them, too.

Lord,

Thank you for being with us always. Thank you for wanting to be in the details of our lives.  You know before we get there exactly what we need most—and you provide. Thank you for listening and speaking to our hearts and minds throughout each day lived for you and with you.

In Jesus Name, Amen