Submission and Contentment

Proverbs 19-21; Romans 13 

“The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord; he directs is like a watercourse wherever he pleases…The fear of the Lord leads to life: Then one rests content, untouched by trouble.”

Proverbs 21:1; 19:23

“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.”

Romans 13:1

Paul wrote his letter to the church in Rome, not realizing it would be the location of his martyrdom. The Roman Caesar, whom Paul called the church to submit to, eventually tortured and killed Paul. Paul’s hope and our hope come from the greater authority of God in whose hands are the heart of the king and our very lives. More importantly, our hope is in the resurrection of the dead through Christ’s victory over sin and death. Submission to authority begins with God and the point of our salvation. Without submission to God’s authority we are not saved. From the point of surrender, we then entrust our lives fully to the hands of the Lord God Almighty. We honor authority because we know the Source. Those who live under God’s authority are given authority to steward.

Have we found this kind of contentment yet?

“Lord God, I am yours and I am content to live in your hands, for your glory.”