This is the reason we should pray for our
government and for our elected officials:
RESPECT FOR AUTHORITY
1 Everyone must submit
to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in
positions of authority have been placed there by God.
2 So
anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has
instituted, and they will be punished.
3 For
the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those
who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do
what is right, and they will honor you.
4 The
authorities are God's servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong,
of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are
God's servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is
wrong.
5 So
you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear
conscience.
6 Pay
your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be
paid. They are serving God in what they do.
7 Give
to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who
collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority.
This is the reason we should avoid debt, for
ourselves AND for our government budgets:
LOVE FULFILLS GOD'S
REQUIREMENTS
8 Owe nothing to
anyoneÑexcept for your obligation to love one another. If you love your
neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God's law.
9 For
the commandments say, "You must not commit adultery. You must not murder.
You must not steal. You must not covet." TheseÑand other such
commandmentsÑare summed up in this one commandment: "Love your neighbor as
yourself."
10 Love does
no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God's law.