Sunday Thought 34

There has been a lot of talk about taxes lately. Including some questions like what groups should pay, how much should be paid, how it should be paid, what should be taxed,  etc. Whether you are pro-tax or anti-tax, taxes are here to stay. And they have been with us for thousands of years.

And as long as there have been taxes there has also been the question – should we pay? If you are a Christian, that question has been answered. Yes. The question was put forward to Jesus – “Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” His answer? Jesus said “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” (Luke 20:22-25).

If there is any good news for us, it is that today,in a democracy, unlike other countries or even in previous times, we have a say in who will tax us. Elections are important, and as we are finding out, elections have consequences.  So it is important for us, with a clear conscience, to pay our taxes, and to vote.

[Referring  to the King] “He will take the best of your fields and your vineyards and your olive groves, and give them to his servants. And he will take a tenth of your seed and of your vineyards, and give to his officers and to his servants. He will also take your male servants and your female servants and your best young men and your donkeys, and use them for his work. He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his servants. Then you will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the Lord will not answer you in that day.” Nevertheless, the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel, and they said, “No, but there shall be a king over us.”  (Bible, 1 Samuel 8:14-19)

Because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. Render to all what is due them; tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.” [Romans 13:6-7]