TAXING MOMENTS

I Was Just Thinking About – TAXING MOMENTS.

There’s an old statement that summarizes: “If your outgo exceeds your income, your upkeep will be your downfall.” While the United States gives away billions of dollars to other nations, and the national debt continues to increase to more than 20 Trillion Dollars, the citizenry looks at their meager resources and the amount the government requires to have sent to the IRS (= Insatiable Required Supply?) and wonders how and why! It almost causes one to sing a song from Hee-Haw days…

Gloom, despair, and agony on me.

Deep, dark depression, excessive misery.

If it weren't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all,

Gloom, despair, and agony on me.

When Jesus Christ was questioned by religious types about taxes by an oppressive government of His day, “Tell us what You think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” Jesus was aware of their evil motives, and said: You hypocrites! Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s” (Matthew 22:15-22)! 

On another occasion, the question arose about Jesus and His disciples paying the Temple Tax. A lesson taught here is that despite any oppressive tax requirement the Lord is capable and will provide for His own. The detail is given in Matthew 17:24-28. First, When the collectors asked Peter: “Does your Teacher pay the two drachmas (a drachma’s value was approximately $1.00 or a days wage for an unskilled worker)? Yes, he answered.” Second, where does one get that amount to pay the tax? Jesus interjected: “So that we may not offend them, go to the sea, cast a hook, and take the first fish you catch. When you open its mouth, you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for you and Me.” Regardless of whether or not it was offensive or oppressive, the tax was to be paid.

There is another instruction about paying taxes that many might grumble about because of its persistence and excessiveness. What should one’s attitude be when dealing with payment of taxes honorably? Paul wrote about this in Romans 13:1-8, “It is necessary to submit to authority, not only to avoid punishment, but also as a matter of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes. For the authorities are God’s servants, who devote themselves to their work. Pay everyone what you owe him: taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due. Be indebted to no one, except to love.one another.”

Whenever Tax Payment time arrives, I need to remind myself of the words in I Timothy 2:1-3, “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior.”

Prayerfully – consider these things with me.