marks the 45th year for me in filing a federal tax form. I know many folks who are upset about how much they have to pay. Some are upset that they have to pay any at all. Most of the time when I have had to pay in at the end of the year has been because of how much God had blessed me the previous year, therefore, while I hate government waste and some of how the money is spent, I have always considered it a privilege to live in this country and to participate in our wa
y of life. That does in fact include the paying of taxes. Jesus indicated to those who asked Him that they should pay Rome what was due Rome but also to pay God what was due Him.Does the Bible actually have anything to say about government and the paying of taxes? The New Life Version translates the Apostle Paul's words to the Romans from chapter 13, verses 1-7, this way: Every person must obey the leaders of the land. There is no power given but from God, and all leaders are allowed by God. The person who does not obey the leaders of the land is working against what God has done. Anyone who does that will be punished. Those who do right do not have to be afraid of the leaders. Those who do wrong ar
e afraid of them. Do you want to be free from fear of them? Then do what is right. You will be respected instead. Leaders are God's servants to help you. If you do wrong, you should be afraid. They have the power to punish you. They work for God. They do what God wants done to those who do wrong. You must obey the leaders of the land, not only to keep from God's anger, but so your own heart will have peace. It is right for you to pay taxes because the leaders of the land are servants for God who care for these things. Pay taxes to whom taxes are to be paid. Be afraid of those you should fear. Respect those you should respect.
e afraid of them. Do you want to be free from fear of them? Then do what is right. You will be respected instead. Leaders are God's servants to help you. If you do wrong, you should be afraid. They have the power to punish you. They work for God. They do what God wants done to those who do wrong. You must obey the leaders of the land, not only to keep from God's anger, but so your own heart will have peace. It is right for you to pay taxes because the leaders of the land are servants for God who care for these things. Pay taxes to whom taxes are to be paid. Be afraid of those you should fear. Respect those you should respect.Th
at doesn't mean we give up the right to complain or so it seems. Complaining is part of the American way of life but when you think about it, we can be very petty at times. I was talking to a fellow the other day who just two years ago sold his business for a huge windfall. He was lamenting to me on the phone about the lower interest rates on the renewal of his CD's that are expiring. Here's a guy who will never have to hit another lick in his life to make a living, yet, he's still complaining. I thought to myself, we all should have his problems but that was how he saw it from his point of view. He was also complaining that his income was way over the limit for last year, therefore, he and his wife would not be getting a tax rebate check like most Americans.
at doesn't mean we give up the right to complain or so it seems. Complaining is part of the American way of life but when you think about it, we can be very petty at times. I was talking to a fellow the other day who just two years ago sold his business for a huge windfall. He was lamenting to me on the phone about the lower interest rates on the renewal of his CD's that are expiring. Here's a guy who will never have to hit another lick in his life to make a living, yet, he's still complaining. I thought to myself, we all should have his problems but that was how he saw it from his point of view. He was also complaining that his income was way over the limit for last year, therefore, he and his wife would not be getting a tax rebate check like most Americans.At any rate, because I know we all have strong feelings about the IRS, here's some funny quotes and jokes that may help to take the edge off.
A tax preparer put this comment in his advertisement: "You must pay tax
es. But there's no law that says you gotta leave a tip." A quote from one of our presidents of the past: "Collecting more taxes than is absolutely necessary is legalized robbery." -- Calvin Coolidge. Here's what Albert Einstein, recognized as one of our greatest brains, had to say about our tax system: "The hardest thing in the world to understand is the Income Tax." Then we have the obvious: "It would be nice if we could all pay our taxes with a smile, but normally cash is required." I love this quote from J. Paul Getty, at one time the world's wealthiest individual: "If you get up early, work late, and pay your taxes, you will get ahead -- if you strike oil." Another of our presidents and what he had to say: "Blessed are the young, for they shall inherit the national debt." -- Herbert Hoover. Then we have this profound assessment from President Carter: "The federal income tax system is a disgrace to the human race." Maybe Mark Twain spoke for most folks when he said: "I shall never use profanity except in discussing
house rent and taxes . . ." One comedian put it this way: "The wages of sin are death, but by the time taxes are taken out, it's just sort of a tired feeling." Finally, in the words of America's greatest folk commentator, Will Rogers: "The income tax has made more liars out of the American people than golf has. Even when you make a tax form out on the level, you don't know when it's through if you are a crook or a martyr."
es. But there's no law that says you gotta leave a tip." A quote from one of our presidents of the past: "Collecting more taxes than is absolutely necessary is legalized robbery." -- Calvin Coolidge. Here's what Albert Einstein, recognized as one of our greatest brains, had to say about our tax system: "The hardest thing in the world to understand is the Income Tax." Then we have the obvious: "It would be nice if we could all pay our taxes with a smile, but normally cash is required." I love this quote from J. Paul Getty, at one time the world's wealthiest individual: "If you get up early, work late, and pay your taxes, you will get ahead -- if you strike oil." Another of our presidents and what he had to say: "Blessed are the young, for they shall inherit the national debt." -- Herbert Hoover. Then we have this profound assessment from President Carter: "The federal income tax system is a disgrace to the human race." Maybe Mark Twain spoke for most folks when he said: "I shall never use profanity except in discussing
house rent and taxes . . ." One comedian put it this way: "The wages of sin are death, but by the time taxes are taken out, it's just sort of a tired feeling." Finally, in the words of America's greatest folk commentator, Will Rogers: "The income tax has made more liars out of the American people than golf has. Even when you make a tax form out on the level, you don't know when it's through if you are a crook or a martyr."One last thing. I've never really understood the whole deal about waiting to the very last minute and having to wait in line to get a post mark on the envelope or packet. To some, I suppose this is their way of protesting the process itself. The whole exercise seems like a huge waste of time and effort to me. Do I wish we had a more simple tax system, one that is easier to comply with, and more fair to everyone involved? You betcha! But with p
oliticians involved, I'm not going to hold my breath until that happens. Until then, I will, with God's help, do my best to be the kind of citizen He has called me to be. It doesn't take long at all to know we could be much worse off in almost any other country in the world. May God bless you and yours and may God bless America. Amen, and happy Monday. ....More later.
oliticians involved, I'm not going to hold my breath until that happens. Until then, I will, with God's help, do my best to be the kind of citizen He has called me to be. It doesn't take long at all to know we could be much worse off in almost any other country in the world. May God bless you and yours and may God bless America. Amen, and happy Monday. ....More later.
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