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Ancient Rome ruled the world for five centuries. Years after it collapsed, historian Ed Gibbons said it fell, not from external conquerors, but from internal corruption. People began to reject authority, ignore moral constraints, and do whatever they decided was right in their own eyes. When people in any society throw off moral restraint and take advantage of others unjustly, that society is doomed to collapse. Often lawlessness causes those who are hungry for order to tolerate dictators and give up their freedoms. To help avoid that slippery slope the Bible urges us to live morally upright lives, and to respect both civil and Church leaders. We read in Romans 13:1, “Everyone must submit to governing authorities…placed there by God. [NLT]” We read in Hebrews 13:17, “Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. [NLT]” Today, God wants His people to live exemplary lives, to practice justice, to foster moral behavior; and to use our influence to select leaders of integrity for both civil and spiritual leadership roles.
