Is the Rancher Grateful?

We are hearing in the news recently about a rancher in Nevada, who is ignoring the restraining orders sent out by the government to stop grazing his cattle on government land.  The government is not taking his own land from him, it is only telling him, he can no longer graze on government land.

I understand that the authorities have allowed his family to graze his cattle on these lands for several generations.  It may be an injustice to the man, of sorts, while harming his business. I feel badly that this is happening to him and his family, however we are not called to fight back when the authorities have spoken.  Using legal and peaceful means to redress grievances is acceptable, but to pick up arms is not an option for the believer, especially when what we fight for does not belong to us to start with.

When we know as believers that God is in control of all of these things, we can do what is legal and allowable, while trusting God when things are taken from us.  Since the land is not the property of the rancher, he must understand that he really has no rights to it, unless there is a written agreement.  And even then the all powerful government can revoke that right at any time, in this present administration.

So often we think we have a right to things, simply because we have been using them.  Our government is controlled at this time by a socialist, communist mentality, they are less likely to allow the use of anything that belongs to the government, by individuals who will prosper from it. 

During the time of Paul the Apostle, the Romans controlled everything, those who were not Romans were subject to them.  God spoke the words in the passages of Romans, to instruct those under Roman rule, not to resist the authorities.  

My hope is that there are no believers who are marching to Bunkerville Nevada to fight the government. When we love Christ, we know that He uses all things, even our losses to train us. How are we to learn to submit under injustice if we never have to endure it?  

Even if the government is corrupt, God has placed it there for our training, and to learn to depend entirely on Him.  When we are spoiled children who think we must have our way, no matter what, then we will ferociously fight for what does not even belong to us.  

Perhaps the rancher would do better to obey the law and be grateful for the years he did have, rather than being angry he cannot have more.  Think about that for a moment.  

Romans 13:1-8
Submit to Government
"1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 
2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 
3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. 
4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. 
5 Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. 
6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. 
7 Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor."

Matthew 22:20-22
"20 And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?”
21 They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 
22 When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left Him and went their way."