"I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase"
1 Corinthians 3:6
A Message From the Horne of Africa
INCOME TAX
04/26/2009
A teacher was testing the general knowledge of her class of ten-year olds. "Billy," she said, "Make a sentence with income tax." He pondered the request for a moment. A smile crept across his face as he replied, "I had a little dog--his name was 'Tax.' I opened the door and...in come Tax!" Perhaps he should have said, "I opened the door and in came tracks." In spite of Billy's ingenious declaration, no one likes April 15 until it has been successfully passed. After all, these are times when it is hard to make ends meet. In fact, the recent TEA [Taxed Enough Already] parties would not have been organized if tax collecting didn't contribute to our personal economic squeeze. It is well said, "When your outgo exceeds your income, your upkeep becomes your downfall."
The New Testament has somewhat to say about taxes and tax collectors. Often extortion was the name of their game. When tax collectors came to be baptized by John the Baptist, they asked, "What should we do?" John replied, "Don't collect any more than you are required to," Luke 3:12. Yet, in that same gospel, the virtues of another tax collector are extolled, Luke 19:1-10. Jesus' encounter with Zacchaeus revolutionized his life. He manifested his willingness to repent by restoring fourfold to anyone whom he might have fleeced. He also displayed a philanthropic spirit by his desire to give half his goods to the poor. His heart must have been right with God, for Jesus told him that salvation had come to his house that day. Did he go from being a "branch manager" to being a "benevolent man" after Jesus had his way with him? He definitely was changed. But taxes still had to be paid!
Whereas Zacchaeus was in a tree when the Lord called on him, Levi (Matthew) was sitting in his tax booth, Luke 5:27-32. He immediately got up, left everything and followed Jesus. He even threw a great banquet for Jesus at his home in the presence of many tax collector guests. The Pharisees were horrified and chagrined by Jesus' acceptance of that invitation. They must have thought, "What was he thinking?" Jesus did not, however, resist paying his taxes even though he was Lord of the Universe. Jesus paid the temple tax required by law, Exodus 30:13, selecting the shekels found in the mouth of a fish to honor that expense, Matthew 17:27.
Whenever we feel the compulsion to complain about having to pay taxes, we should remember that God endorsed the paying of taxes to a secular government. Romans 13:6-7 states: "This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe them: if you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor." Also, remember that the government God was referring to was the oppressive Roman government. See also 1 Peter 2:15-17.
Taxes are what we pay to the authorities in order to have roads, bridges, electricity and all the other amenities. Contributions to the church are what we pay for the air we breathe and the water we drink and the great salvation we enjoy. We are not really buying them--we get them freely, but it is showing our gratitude for a gracious God who gives us all these things freely to enjoy.
In closing, the professor said to his class, "I wish now to tax your memory." Someone in the class let out a wail, "Oh no, don't tell me it has come to that now!" I tried to pay my taxes with a smile, but the revenue services insisted on the cash. Phooey! Best thing is: pay up and smile. We can't take it with us anyway. The revenue services will make sure of that!
Love you all,
Al--"the Horne of Africa."