Biblical to pay taxes

Today I am getting all my paperwork together in anticipation of my yearly visit with my accountant. It is always a trying experience because I have to go through all my files and dig out the documents that the government requires.

After it is all over, I know I won’t have the refund that I had hoped for and since I have no children at home, I might even have to pay money to the government.

I am just like everyone else. I grumble, moan, and complain about the taxes in my life but in actuality, I know that it is biblical to pay taxes.

In Matthew 22:17-21, the Pharisees asked Jesus a question: “Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax.”

They brought Him a denarius, and He asked them, “Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?”

“Caesar’s,” they replied.

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

I believe this quote was the first time that there was a separation of church and state. Money is made by the government and we just use it. God isn’t really concerned with our money but rather our salvation.

Federal income tax, state income tax, local income tax, sales tax, property tax, personal property tax, capital gains tax, etc. are things that we have come up with to pay for the operations of our country.

The Bible commands that we pay our taxes and that we are to submit ourselves to the government (Romans 13:1-7) unless the government asks us to do something that Bible forbids (there are a few issues in our country at this time that do fall into the latter category).

But, because we are Christians and follow the scriptures, we must submit to this unpleasant act of paying our taxes.

You are free to take every tax deduction that is both legal and honest, and if there is a tax break that you qualify for, be sure to get it. It isn’t wrong to reduce the amount you owe if you can but, in the end, you must file.

On the upside of things, taxes provide us with things that we need and want like good roads and practical programs.

In some counties, working libraries and clean cemeteries are benefits of taxes. I use the library constantly and I think keeping our cemeteries looking good is important.

State and Federal programs for the poor and disabled are extremely helpful, and I do like the fact that some of my money goes toward making those possible.

So this week, I will drag myself down to the accountant’s office and do my duty as a tax payer. I will remind myself that the scriptures tell me that I am called to do this and I won’t complain.