Tax Day

15 Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. 16 They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are.17 Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?”

18 But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? 19 Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, 20 and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”

21 “Caesar’s,” they replied.

Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”

22 When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away. Matthew 22

I hate April 15. I think I have justification. Each year on that date I write by far the largest check of the year, made out to people I don’t trust so they can do things I don’t believe in.  I know that the government is “necessary” and does some “good” things. It’s just that with each passing year much less of what they do is “necessary” or “good.” I wish I had the courage and rebel spirit to be tax protestor, but that’s not me.

I know some folks use Jesus’ discussion about the tax to support paying tax, but that’s not what Jesus is talking about at all. Some things are Caesar’s, but much more and much more important stuff belongs to God. If we are willing to acknowledge government’s right to demand payment from us, we are hypocrites if we don’t acknowledge God’s right to do the same. Obviously, His right is greater. He owns more. In fact, He owns it all. In fact, He owns us. In spite of what some politicians may think, the government doesn’t.

I envy those “employees” who give their share to the government out of each paycheck and once a year celebrate the return of some of their money, and in some cases some of mine. For the rest of us, when we write our checks and fight the post office crowds, let’s think about what we are holding back from God.

Let’s prove we can spiritualize anything and learn a lesson from anything.