For the last couple years, I've really struggled with paying taxes. Not only struggling to have the right attitude in my heart, but dealing with the conscience of giving money to a government that pays for stuff that morally I'm opposed to. I actually once considered not paying taxes as a protest against the government's use of my money to pay for abortions. That was a little intense...
Yet this year the Lord has done a change in my heart, and there have been some biblical texts that have changed my mind and heart.
The first is realizing God's heart for giving and obedience: "Each one must give as he
has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves
a cheerful giver." (2 Cor 9:7 ESV)
The second is realizing that paying taxes was God's idea: “Therefore
render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things
that are God's.” (Matthew 22:21 ESV)
"6 For
because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers
of God, attending to this very thing. 7 Pay to
all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom
revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is
owed." (Romans 13:6-7)
So I've come to the conclusion from Scripture that paying taxes is not just the mandate of the U.S. government, but also the mandate of heaven. That really makes it more exciting when I get to obey God by giving money to someone that may not know Him. I'm also confident that the people who handle that money will answer to the most just Judge that ever existed. So I can vote, speak my mind publicly and pray constantly, and after it's all said and done GOD will right every wrong and clean up the mess we've made, and those that have rejected Him will receive their just punishment. God is in control! And yet at the same time I'm grieved when I hear the statistics of how my money is being used, even it's for one intentional abortion, because for whatever reason is one death is still too many.
So what do we do in this tension of being citizens of heaven while living in a dark world that needs the light? There are many godly responses, (and however we do it, paying taxes is a must) but for me as I've been led by the Spirit the words of Paul have been a comfort to me while thinking about taxes:
4 Rejoice
in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let
your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;
6 do not be
anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and
supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be
made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which
surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in
Christ Jesus.
Why rejoice? Because ultimately all government comes from God, and is responsible to God and He loves a cheerful giver. So why not turn that frown upside down and pay our taxes with joy this year? If we don't have enough money to pay for it this year, let us pray with thankfulness with all that we've already received. God has given us so much in Christ (Eph. 1:3ff)! And then let us work hard for the glory of God, making the most of every moment we're alive so that we can give even more away to those that may be in need. I guarantee no matter how poor we are, God has a plan to provide for us everything we need and there is always someone in greater poverty than us. And of course, let us pray for the government that they will have the fear of the LORD, for the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom (Pr 1:7, 9:10).
So, I appeal to you, if you call yourself a Christian and want to submit to the authority of the Scripture, pay your taxes with joy and thankfulness, out of obedience to a generous, just and holy God who is watching everything that we do, and pray that our government will walk in the fear of the LORD and use those taxes for His glory as well. And pray for me that I will do the same. We are all in need of His grace :)
