VICTORIOUS CHRISTIAN LIFE, Dr. Samuel Lee
GIVE EVERYONE WHAT YOU OWE HIM
Passage: Romans 13:1~7  
Key verse: 7
Submission to Governing Authorities
13 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities,(A) for there is no authority except that which God has established.(B) The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted,(C) and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended.(D) 4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.(E) 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.(F)
6 This is also why you pay taxes,(G) for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. 7 Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes;(H) if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
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Source:  BibleGateway
1. Submit to governing authorities (1-5)
We have a responsibility as God's people to not only submit to Him, but also to governing authorities. This is because God has placed them in those positions. So, when we refuse to obey the authorities, we are disobeying God. We should obey for two reasons. First, if we don't we might undergo punishment. If we obey authorities, they hold no terror for us. But if we disobey them, they might punish us. We also obey them because of matters of conscience. It is the right thing to do in God's sight.
2. Pay what you owe (6,7)
Paying taxes of all kinds is a drudgery. No one likes to pay taxes. No one likes to pay any kind of revenue. But we do so. It is right to do so because God established all those in authority over us. They are God's servants and are in full time service of Him. So, if we owe the government taxes, we should pay it. We should pay anyone what we owe them, whether it is money, respect, honor or whatever. Jesus, who paid our debt to God is our example here.
Prayer: Lord, Jesus has paid our debt to you. Help us pay the debts we owe to each other, whatever that debt might be.
One Word: Give to everyone what you owe them