078. It’s Tax Time. How Is That a Good Thing?

18 Apr, 2011

Now we can complain about our government all we want, which I do, but it takes our eyes off the big picture.

Let me ask you this… If God had you born in a different country with a different economic and government system like communist China, feudal Japan, monarchist England, or Old Testament Israel  – would your calling be any different? Does somehow the commands to, “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength” (Deut 6:5) change just because you live in a particular system of government or economic system?

Does somehow the verse, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose (RO 8:28)” not apply when Democrats or Republicans take over the White House?  Or if we socialize healthcare?  Or socialize jellybeans?

God’s goal isn’t to have the best economy or most democratic system of government in place.  God’s goal isn’t lower taxes or more money in your bank account. His goal is to have us glorify Him. 

We are called to love Him and love others.  We are called to put our faith in Him.

And God often times He uses hardships to increase our faith in Him.  Sometimes financial hardships. Sometimes these hardships are caused by our government, sometimes they’re caused by our families, sometimes God allows our cars to break down.

So how are taxes a good thing? If it takes higher taxes or a car repair bill or any other financial situation to increase our faith in God – it’s a good thing.  And our faith in God is what matters.


MT 22:34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. [35] One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: [36] “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” MT 22:37 Jesus replied: ” `Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ [38] This is the first and greatest commandment. [39] And the second is like it: `Love your neighbor as yourself.’ [40] All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Take time to pray: Ask God to help you not get distracted from His goal for your life with financial, political or social changes. Today’s Fruit of the Spirit: Faithfulness. So I’m doing my taxes right now, and I am so glad our money is going to politicians who can spend it a lot more wisely than we can. Let’s take money out of the economy from where it wanted, and give it to a few hundred ex-lawyers and let them spend it on where the economy didn’t want.