Taxes

Keeping a close watch on him, they sent spies, who pretended to be sincere. They hoped to catch Jesus in something he said, so that they might hand him over to the power and authority of the governor. So the spies questioned him: “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is right, and that you do not show partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

He saw through their duplicity and said to them, “Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?”

“Caesar’s,” they replied.

He said to them, “Then give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”

They were unable to trap him in what he had said there in public. And astonished by his answer, they became silent.

Luke 20:20-26 (NIV)

It’s tax season! This is usually the time of year where it is a blessing for some and, unfortunately, a pain in the tail for others – depending on your tax bracket. What I’ve come to learn, as with others, is that this time of year is mostly inescapable for everyone. Paying taxes is something that we all must do here in the U.S. and in, pretty much, every other part of the world in some form or another.

I doubt the government will ever cease collecting taxes; it’s a way of life. While reading the scripture, (Luke 20:20-26 NIV) I was amused at the attempt to try and trip Jesus up to see if he was going to follow the laws of the land himself and pay taxes to Caesar. (Isn’t that just like the IRS! Try and bamboozle you with a bunch of questions in the hopes of tricking and making you pay a hefty sum later! STAY WOKE!)

The text shows that even Jesus could not escape paying taxes. The Son of The Creator, who literally owns everything, was bound by the same laws of the land as everyone else. Jesus clearly says to give GOD what is His and Caesar what’s his.

It is most understandable that paying taxes is something no one wants to do – hence why they take taxes out first (otherwise….FIND ME BRUH!) It’s crazy how taxes are taken out first and God gives us the OPTION to tithe. Taxes are taken, tithes are given, but imagine if those were flipped? How much further along could the church be in doing GOD’s divine work? For the record, it’s ALL God’s anyway, right? Right.

The takeaway is this: while Jesus didn’t have to pay taxes, He still did. The relationship between money earned and taxes paid will always be a love/hate one, but also a necessary one.

Here’s a life lesson: money is, indeed, NOT always “easy come,” but it will always be “easy go.” HOWEVER, when you’re a child of the MOST HIGH, rest assured that you’ll never be broke! Why? (I’m glad you asked!) Because JESUS paid it all!

 

Prayer

Father God we just want to say THANK YOU! Thank You for not always having everything we may want, but always having exactly what we need through You. No amount of taxing or tithing will ever be enough for the price that was already paid for us. We LOVE You and we are forever grateful for Your Grace and Mercy.

Amen.