God promises rewards to those who submit to authority. The following Bible verses reveal that this conviction impacts many aspects of life:
- Things will be well with you: “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), 3 “that it may go well with you” (Ephesians 6:2–3a).
- You will have a long life: “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right…that you may live long in the land” (Ephesians 6:1; 3b).
- You will bring delight to the Lord: “Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord” (Colossians 3:20).
- You will avoid fear of condemnation: “For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer” (Romans 13:3–4).
- You will maintain a good conscience: “Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience” (Romans 13:5).
- You will bring joy to your authorities: “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you” (Hebrews 13:17).
- You will receive God’s reward: “Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. 20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. 22 Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters,[a] not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ” (Colossians 3:18–24).
- You will avoid blaspheming God and His Word through rebellion: “Let all who are under a yoke as bondservants regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be blasphemed” (I Timothy 6:1).
- You will be given clear direction: “My son, keep your father’s commandment, and forsake not your mother’s teaching. 21 Bind them on your heart always; tie them around your neck. 22 When you walk, they will lead you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; and when you awake, they will talk with you” (Proverbs 6:20–22).
- You will be protected from evil people: “For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life, 24 to preserve you from the evil woman, from the smooth tongue of the adulteress” (Proverbs 6:23–24).
- You will gain discernment: “A fool despises his father’s instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is prudent” (Proverbs 15:5).
- You will receive praise from your authorities: “Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor[b] as supreme, 14 or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good” (I Peter 2:13–14).
- You will honor those whom God has placed in authority over you: “We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves” (I Thessalonians 5:12–13).
- You will escape the destruction of pride: “If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, 4 he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions” (I Timothy 6:3–4).
You will receive the grace God gives to the humble: “Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you” (I Peter 5:5–7).