Tax Time

"6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 7 Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.” Romans 13:6-7

Here it comes again! April 15…the day in the United States that income taxes must be filed. Some of us don’t pay much attention, and some of us commiserate greatly over the amount of our resources we must contribute.

The first income tax in the U.S. began in 1862, during the civil war when the north instituted an income tax. The Confederate government did the same in 1863. The individual states started imposing income tax in 1911. It was then made a permanent part of our lives by the 16th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

The oldest tax I could find was in the Old Testament. King Solomon taxed the people. He established twelve districts to sustain the king for a month each by taxation (1 Kgs 4:7-19, 22-28). Solomon also conscripted labor from Israel (1 Kgs 5:13), taxed merchants and trade (1 Kgs 10:15), and received tribute from nations (1 Kgs 4:21).

As of 2023, one report shows 97 different taxes in the US Tax Code. Why must we pay all these taxes? Certainly, we all would want some of the public provisions that come from taxes, such as fire and police protection etc. But the reality is that our tax burden seems to grow with increase on top of increase, and sometimes spending by the government seems frivolous. We might wonder how much more we can afford before we “go under”.

The word of God tells us repeatedly to submit to our leaders and those put over us. God’s word tells us to “render unto Ceasar what is Ceasar’s”. In Romans 13 Paul tells us we must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. And that the authorities are ministers of God.

Isn’t it interesting that Paul equates paying taxes, revenue, honor, and respect as all the same? God loves a cheerful giver even in paying taxes.

Dear God - Please help us to understand your commands from your Word. Place your steadying hand on our leaders and give them wisdom in their leadership, and help them become good stewards of the resources given. AMEN.