Paying Taxes or Avoiding Taxes
When I worked for a Christian University in Southern California my department head suggested that I get my license as a minister. He said it was an easy process and told me that I would get tax breaks. I was yet a babe in Christ, but what he said disturbed me. I thought to myself, "If my motive in becoming a licensed minister was so I could get a tax break, then something ain't right with my walk. To hell if he gone get me in trouble with the LORD."
I had not absorbed a lot of the bible up to that point, but surely the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom was something that stuck out all the time for me back then. As I read and learned more about Jesus and his walk, I ran across scripture to guide and affirm my thoughts in Christ.
Matthew Chapter 17 (The Temple Tax)
24 After they had arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax came to Peter and asked, “Does your Teacher pay the two drachmas?”
25“Yes,” he answered.
When Peter entered the house, Jesus preempted him. “What do you think, Simon?” He asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect customs and taxes: from their own sons, or from others?” 26“From others,” Peter answered. “Then the sons are exempt,” Jesus declared. 27“But so that we may not offend them, go to the sea, cast a hook, and take the first fish you catch. When you open its mouth, you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for My tax and yours.”
Mark Chapter 12 (The Pharisees: Is It Lawful to Pay Taxes to Caesar?)
13 Then they sent to Him some of the Pharisees and the Herodians, to catch Him in His words. 14 When they had come, they said to Him, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and care about no one; for You do not regard the person of men, but teach the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? 15 Shall we pay, or shall we not pay?”
But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, “Why do you test Me? Bring Me a denarius that I may see it.” 16 So they brought it.
And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” They said to Him, “Caesar’s.”
17And Jesus answered and said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
And they marveled at Him.
If Jesus renders unto Ceasar what is Ceasar's, then so shall I. If Jesus pays taxes to the temple so as not to offend the world/others, Jesus will supply the provisions for me to pay the tax as well. Pray that you are not conformed to this world and its ways. Many churches and pastors want not only the tithe but to be absolved from the tax. The flesh would have us to find all the loops holes we can to avoid doing all sorts of things. My prayer is that there is a renewing of our minds, in Christ, in Jesus' name.
I had not absorbed a lot of the bible up to that point, but surely the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom was something that stuck out all the time for me back then. As I read and learned more about Jesus and his walk, I ran across scripture to guide and affirm my thoughts in Christ.
Matthew Chapter 17 (The Temple Tax)
24 After they had arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax came to Peter and asked, “Does your Teacher pay the two drachmas?”
25“Yes,” he answered.
When Peter entered the house, Jesus preempted him. “What do you think, Simon?” He asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect customs and taxes: from their own sons, or from others?” 26“From others,” Peter answered. “Then the sons are exempt,” Jesus declared. 27“But so that we may not offend them, go to the sea, cast a hook, and take the first fish you catch. When you open its mouth, you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for My tax and yours.”
Mark Chapter 12 (The Pharisees: Is It Lawful to Pay Taxes to Caesar?)
13 Then they sent to Him some of the Pharisees and the Herodians, to catch Him in His words. 14 When they had come, they said to Him, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and care about no one; for You do not regard the person of men, but teach the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? 15 Shall we pay, or shall we not pay?”
But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, “Why do you test Me? Bring Me a denarius that I may see it.” 16 So they brought it.
And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” They said to Him, “Caesar’s.”
17And Jesus answered and said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
And they marveled at Him.
If Jesus renders unto Ceasar what is Ceasar's, then so shall I. If Jesus pays taxes to the temple so as not to offend the world/others, Jesus will supply the provisions for me to pay the tax as well. Pray that you are not conformed to this world and its ways. Many churches and pastors want not only the tithe but to be absolved from the tax. The flesh would have us to find all the loops holes we can to avoid doing all sorts of things. My prayer is that there is a renewing of our minds, in Christ, in Jesus' name.
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