Today's Devotional

 

April 16, 2008

                                                                                         

Subject:  Should I Pay My Taxes? 

Mark 12:14b, 15, 17 "And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?

15 Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it.

17 And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marvelled at him."

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Yesterday was the annual tax deadline and as always, many people waited until the very last minute to file their taxes.  The famed actor Wesley Snipes is currently being recommended by a U.S. prosecutor to serve a 3 year jail sentence for defying the law to pay his taxes of over $41 million.  Also being prosecuted with him are two men representing the Guiding Light of God ministries.  So how does God's name get mixed up in this kind of stuff?

Well many people probably ask the same question that these Pharisees had of Jesus.  "Do I have to pay my taxes?"  The only real reason for that question to Jesus was to try to trick Him and the only reason anyone would ask that question today is because Satan has already tricked people into thinking that they can live as a believer in this world and not be subject to the authority that God has placed in this world.  

In our church bible study we are in the book of Daniel and it's a great book to understand how we, as believers, can live in the world and still maintain our faith and believe in God while submitting to the rule of man.

Today we are required to pay our taxes and it is clearly another way to be faithful to God and His command of "rendering to Caesar what is Caesar's."  When we do this, we are giving to God.  Pay your taxes.        

Carlen