As I write today's blog, we are less than a month from the due date to have our Federal Income Taxes submitted. This year we had a small sum to pay back in state taxes and I heard my wife say: "I will send it right before the due date!" This statement made me think: "Why are we in such a hurry to get our refund back, but so slow in making sure our owed taxes are paid? "
In the final week that Jesus taught in the temple, the religious leaders wanted to destroy Jesus and they set him up with a question that they thought would surely be his downfall. "Is it lawful for us to give a tribute to Caesar or not?" At this point Jesus asked them to show him a coin, and when they did, he asked whose likeness was on it? They replied "Caesar's", Jesus stated: "Give to God what is God's and give to Caesar what is Caesar's!"
As we pay our taxes, we glean from the words of Jesus, in that as we pay our earthly taxes and maybe grumble and complain, we acknowledge the fact that we need not be anxious about life. As we live this earthly life and pay our taxes or even receive refunds, let us always worry about seeking out the Kingdom of God and all shall be ours as well.
We may not all agree on the amount of earthly taxes that we pay, or even in the method they are collected and used, but we understand that as citizens we are required to pay taxes. Additionally, we give to God what is God's through "faith" as we understand that all we have is from God. My prayer for us all this day is that as we pay our taxes, Locally, Stately, and Federally, we grasp the fact that in the end our taxes mean nothing in the eternity of our being. By giving our faith and love to God through his Son Jesus Christ, we know that our future is safe, secure, and solid, because Jesus paid our debt on the cross.
Jesus paid God's taxes first, so that we would have a tax free eternity.
Giving to the Government what is the Governments and giving to God what is God's
Pastor Tim.
Scripture Reading for Day Twenty-Six
Luke 20: 22-25
Micah 6:8
Matthew 6: 25;33
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