A story was told of a Christian woman who was in the habit of defying the state's law on environmental sanitation exercise every last Saturday of the month. Her excuse was that she was not bound by the laws of man because she was doing God's work. So, anytime the environmental exercise was on, she would go about with megaphone, preaching on the streets. She was eventually arrested and taken to the court where she was tried, found guilty alnd sentenced to one month imprisonment with hard labour. As she was being led away into prison, she was screaming that she was in the will of God.

In our text today, Paul the apostle saw the need to correct a wrong impression among some believers who think that government authorities were demons and needed not be obeyed or respected. He pointed out to them that no government would be in existence if God had not ordained it for a purpose. He encouraged believers to subject themselves to the authorities as such powers are God's instruments. 

It is shockingthat some believers disobey constituted authority by refusing to pay taxes and other legitimate dues. Such people also refuse to take part in other civic activities for the good of society. Those who resist civil government are actually resisting God who instituted government in orderto maintain order in the society. The fact that rulers of civil government are corrupt and wicked does not invalidate the necessity of civil government and one’s obedience to the laws of the land.

Every citizen, irrespective of religious-background, must abide by the laws of the land. Disobedience to any law is only welcome by God when such law is in direct conflict with the divine law. Even at that, there is still need for divine wisdom to always act right.