Virtues
Obedience
quick ideas about obedience. Why obey? Types of obedience.
EspañolA. Obedience to authority
1. What is obedience?
In a precise sense, to obey is to accept and fulfill the will of an authority. Obedience is the act or habit of behaving in this way. In a broader sense, the act of fulfilling the wishes of another may be called obedience, even if they are not an authority. In any case, obedience is linked to the fact of living in society.
2. Does only one who lives in society obey?
An isolated man only needs to obey God and the laws that the Lord has disposed in human nature. On the other hand, someone who lives in a society must exercise that virtue also in relation to others.
3. Is it better for man to live in solitude or in society?
"It is not good for man to be alone." Self-sufficiency, so linked to pride, does not suit us. Man is a social being who improves more easily and rapidly with the collaboration of other men (the internet itself is an example). On the other hand, we also need moments of solitude, among other things to pray. To pray is to seek the company of God.
4. Types of obedience
Let us distinguish three:
- Obedience to authority. This is obedience in its most precise sense, and is necessary for the proper functioning of any society. For example, it is impossible for a team to win if no one obeys the coach and everyone plays as a forward.
- Obedience to others. Doing the will of another is indispensable for relating. Someone who never yields in their preferences is a tyrant who does not know how to coexist.
- Obedience of authority. Subjects must obey those who govern, and not vice versa, but those who lead cannot follow their own whims either; they must seek the common good, fulfilling the laws of God and of society. Only one who knows how to obey, mastering their caprices, will be a good ruler.
5. What if I am right?
Several cases may occur:
- That personal opinion seems best, but it is not so due to personal error or because the authority has more information.
- That better opinion for oneself is worse for others and the authority must seek the good of all.
- That opinion is best for everyone and the authority is mistaken.
6. In this last case, must one obey?
There are also several possibilities:
- If the matter is of little importance — which is the norm — one obeys and that is that: the good of getting it right is lost, but the good of peace and the exercise of obedience is gained.
- If the matter is important, one tries to clarify it by speaking with the authority or with their superiors. Always seeking the good, not out of pride.
7. Must one always obey?
This is the norm, the simplest course and what the Lord intended when creating man as a social being. However, it can happen that some authority orders actions contrary to the law of God. In this case "one must obey God rather than men," but without failing in the respect due to authority, as the Lord also desires.
8. Does obedience suit man?
Like any virtue, obedience improves man. In this case it facilitates life in society, checks pride, disposes one to fulfill the Will of God, and exercises love.
9. Is obedience an exercise of love?
Obedience is related to love insofar as it contributes to the common good and to love is to desire good for someone; here the good of the family, the firm, the team, etc. One can obey out of fear, but the best obedience is directed toward obtaining a good and is thus united to love.
10. Does obedience diminish personality or freedom?
No, no. Only persons with strong will and great talent know how to set aside their own preferences for the common good that authority represents. The decision to obey is proof of intelligent freedom. In fact, the most perfect man was obedient unto death, even death on a Cross; in this case obedient to God the Father.
B. Obedience to God
1. Is it advisable to obey God?
Our Lord God is infinitely wise, and infinite is also his love toward men. Consequently, he always wants what is best for us and knows perfectly what is good for us. For this reason, obedience to God is proof of good sense and a sure path to happiness; even though at times the divine desires do not coincide with our own preferences.
2. Why does God's Will not coincide with human preferences?
Sometimes men desire what is good for us, coinciding then with the divine Will. But other times we do not find what is best because our data and intelligence are limited and because we have an inclination toward evil, a consequence of original sin.
3. How to know the Will of God?
To discover what God wants of us there are four main paths:
- Studying human nature. — Our way of being contains within itself many desires of the Creator for man (natural law). However, when observing human nature it is worth remembering that our inclination toward evil is not natural but a consequence of sin.
- Knowing Christian doctrine. — The teachings of Christ contain many divine desires that the Lord has wished to manifest to us.
- Prayer. — When elevating our thought to God, sometimes ideas or desires to improve some aspect of our life are perceived. It may be one's own thought, but it may also be a desire of God for us.
- The guidance of other people. — Men relate to each other and exchange opinions and advice. Sometimes these are simple human experience, but other times the Lord makes use of something so natural to show us his desires. Equally, in a natural way man must obey authority, and in its commands many divine plans are found. The Creator likes to use natural paths.
4. Does authority come from God?
God has created man as a social being and therefore subject to an authority that guides steps in the search for the common good. These divine desires are reflected in the fourth commandment which orders honoring, respecting and obeying parents and authorities in general.