ORDERS: FOR OTHERS OR FOR YOU?

Everyone knows and respects the military barracks because it's an arena of order and structure. You don't mess around or misbehave around the barracks. During my years of growing up, I had the privilege of mixing up with a lot of military personnel. One unique thing I learnt from my rapport with these individuals is discipline. People are trained primarily in the military to follow orders. "Obey the last order" is usually their watchword. I discovered that by taking and following orders, soldiers become disciplined. The rule is not different in real life. 

Orders are instructions given to us from time to time to do something, with the intention to mold or shape our lives, directly or indirectly. 

This process forms discipline in us, consciously or unconsciously and makes us responsible individuals in the society. Are you the type that believes that orders are not meant for you? If so, you may need to have a rethink. Orders are in place to order our lives in the right direction. Without them, our lives may never have structure. For most of us, the issue of order concerns the person from whom it is coming. Most of us would rather take orders from an older, more superior personality than from someone who is younger and/or of a lower cadre to us in the society. However, in the military, order is order, no matter the person from whom it is coming. 

I personally believe that orders help us maintain order in our immediate environment which in turn creates structure in our society. The scripture admonishes, "Work...as though you were working for the Lord." (Colossians 3:23) Can you imagine a nation without a leader, a workplace without a boss, or an army without a general? It would be rather chaotic. We should learn to respect those in authority over us. Let's learn to honour those who have lived longer than us because they possess a wealth of knowledge. It makes a lot of sense to listen to them and grow. If you rebel against every instruction you are given, don't complain when those around you rebel against your words and opinions. The law of reciprocity states that if you want to be treated with respect, you must respect others and/or treat others with respect. That includes those you don't agree with, or even like. Jesus did! Therefore, until you and I learn to take orders (irrespective of the person from whom they come), we may never be qualified to give them. Jesus understood this. He was the Son of God. He knew more than any other human being, yet He honored the authority of the government in power in His days. When the Pharisees asked Him His opinion on paying taxes, He answered, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's" (Mark 12:17 NKJV).

Are you rebelling against constituted authority in your place of work or community? Are you speaking words of condemnation about your own boss? Are you belittling those in authority over you? Well, it's time for a change. True, they are not perfect, yet you are under an obligation to take their orders, as long as they have authority or rule over you (even in the military, commanders can be the most annoying set of people, yet soldiers are obliged to take their orders and follow them to the letter). Doing this is right in the sight of God and acceptable to our society. So, stay in order!

Has this article inspired you? What do you think about this subject? I welcome and appreciate your comment. Please share it below so that other readers may read and benefit from it. You can also give your feedback on this post or on any content on this blog by clicking here. To add, please click on the entire social buttons below and share this article with friends. I encourage you, finally, to check out other powerfully inspiring articles (posts) on this blog. Stay in order!

Have you read this month's L.I.F.E. MEDITATION? Click Here NOW to read it!

THE AMBASSADORView Profile  See His Published Motivational Book

-->