"Pay up," Jesus says.

“Pay up,” Jesus says.

It’s tax day.  Is your return filed yet?  Back in late January, I assembled documents, entered the totals of expenses, deductions, and income into the software. My computer did the calculations, and then I pressed ‘send’ – ‘e-filing’ my return. I remember the ‘old days,’ when doing my taxes was a long drawn out process of adding up numbers and finding the right forms on which to enter them.  Because I keep my financial management software current, filing my taxes now takes just a few hours.  The process is simpler now, but the whole idea of sending money to state and local government does not hold much joy for any of us, does it?

Jesus reminds us that we are citizens of two realms.  It is God’s will that we honor the obligations we have to both! Some religious leaders approached the Lord one day to test Him with what they thought was a no-win question. "Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” (Luke 20:22, NIV)  If Jesus said, “Yes,” He risked offending many Jews who hated the Roman occupation government, who thought the ‘pagans’ unworthy of receiving their money.  If He said, “No,” He could be arrested by those Romans for inciting rebellion.  So what did He say? "He saw through their duplicity and said to them, “Show me a denarius. Whose portrait and inscription are on it?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. He said to them, “Then give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” (Luke 20:23-25, NIV)  

The New Testament consistently urges disciples of Christ to honor the governments under which they live. Paul teaches us that government is part of God’s order, that ultimately all authority flows out of His authority.  That does not mean that all who govern are good or honorable.  Sin mars the institution of government as it does everything else. Corruption is real. Egos all too often flourish when men and women are raised up to leadership.  That does not excuse us from good citizenship.

These words, written under the inspiration of the Spirit, by Paul to Christians living in Rome, are challenging to me.  But, they express the will of God for our lives. On this tax day, I urge you to take God’s Word to heart. "Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished.
For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you.

The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong. So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience. Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do. Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority." (Romans 13:1-7, NLT)

Finally, I urge you to pray for those who govern us.  A few weeks ago, I was privileged to sit down with several other pastors to talk at length with the man who represents our district in Congress.  I came away from that meeting with a greater appreciation for the complexity of the issues as well as a new realization of the frustrations that come with the work of leadership. He told us how he is attacked, often personally, from one side or the other, no matter what position he takes. He spoke of the difficulties of legislating. Many years ago, while serving a church in New England, I made a run for town council.  (I was soundly defeated!) The experience gave me a greater appreciation for those who give up privacy to hold public office.

On Tax Day, honor your government. We are citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven, first; and citizens of our nations, second.  We serve our King well when we honor our government. “Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation. This is the way our Savior God wants us to live.” The Message, 1 Timothy 2:2-3