Pay Gratefully
October 18, 2024
“For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.”
Romans 13:4 (NIV)
Very few of us like paying taxes. And in Jesus’ day, people felt the same way. In Matthew 22:17, Jesus was asked about paying taxes. “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s,” He replied. What did Jesus mean by that?
Before He gave His answer, Jesus asked someone to give Him a coin and asked whose image was on it. The image on Caesar's coin indicated that the government both issued the coin and developed a monetary system so people could do business. In other words, technically speaking, the money didn’t belong to any individual, it belonged to the one who issued it.
Your money has been issued by a government and entrusted to you by God. He empowers you to steward all He gives you. And when you honor the government you honor God.
In today’s verse, the Apostle Paul explains that the government is God’s servant under God’s authority. In other words, political leaders are ultimately not public servants, they are God’s servants, for your good.
When you have a grievance about “God’s servant” you don’t have to complain to someone else, you can take it up with Him in prayer. You can be thankful and prayerful for a government working for your good.
When Jesus said give to Caesar what is Caesar's, He made it clear that paying taxes is part of your spiritual responsibility. Give your tithe to God, and your taxes to the government. You don’t have to like paying taxes to do so honestly and gratefully.
Take a moment to thank Him for all your taxes provide-–water, sewage, highways, defense, the justice system, police, and the military. You can thank God and honor the systems of government He has provided. You’ll have a spring in your step and gratitude in your heart that no tax bill can extinguish.
Prayer: Father, Thank You for Your provision. I recognize that You have entrusted me to honor You by honoring those in authority. Help me pay my taxes honestly and gratefully, bringing glory to Your name. Amen.