“Law Abiding Christian”

            Happy Tax Day!  Have you completed and submitted your 2025 return yet? Unless you have filed for an extension, today is the day to send the forms (and a check if you owe) to your friendly Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service.  Oh boy. Thanks for the reminder, huh?

            What is it they say? Death and taxes are the only two things that are certain. I have to admit that I did not know that quote came from Benjamin Franklin until I was writing this column.  He wrote a lot of stuff. Quite the character.

            Still, the idea of taxes can get you down. We have income tax, sales tax, property tax, ad valorem tax, and I won’t finish the list. But you can be certain of this. If you have it, sooner than later someone will try and put a tax on it. 

            In the New Testament the tax collectors were considered to be some of the vilest and hated of people.  Bystanders could not understand why Jesus would stop and speak to Zacchaeus. Others were amazed that He would call Matthew to be His disciple. The fact is that the Lord loved all people, and He has charged us to do the same. Notice, though, that He did not leave them as He found them. They were called to change, and they did.

            Well, that still leaves us with the idea of taxes.  I must admit that I do not enjoy writing a check to the government. I don’t like the added costs to my car, my clothes, or my dinner out with my wife. And yet, Jesus reminded us that we are to, “Give to Caesar what belongs to him, and to God what belongs to Him.”

            God is our first priority. But we are to be faithful to do what is right when it comes to our civic duty as well. That may mean paying taxes, serving on a jury, voting, or running for public office. Here’s the thing. As in all other areas of life, “Do whatever you do to the glory of God.”  That is your calling.