Taxable Trust

Tax time. With Kristi working part time, we have to pay this year. That always comes as an “ouch.” It feels a bit like robbery. It’s like what our son Zachary just experienced in Baltimore. Someone punched out his passenger window to get at the coins on the dash, looking for whatever money they could find. If we had confidence that our tax money was going to be used wisely and for good, maybe it wouldn’t feel so much like having a window punched out. Still, it’s a matter of trust. Doesn’t it always come down to a matter of how much I trust God?

I was going to wait until the last minute to pay this year, but then God put it on my task list for today. Kristi and were reading the “God Sightings One Year Bible” together this morning and came to Mark 12. I like the question in Mark 12:14b-15, “Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay or shouldn’t we?” Have you ever wished Jesus would have said “no,” giving liberty from paying taxes? I mean, that money could be used for the kingdom.

Maybe God will use it for the Kingdom somehow anyway. He tells us in Romans 13:1, “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.” That makes it much easier to send the check to the government. It’s an issue of trust. Even as taxing as it is to my trust, it’s an opportunity to demonstrate that I trust God enough to trust Him to provide as I render unto Caesar what is his. And even more —-I render unto God what is HIS.

So, thank you Lord for the opportunity to pay taxes today as a way to express trust in You and obedience to You. I acknowledge Your ownership of everything, including me and everything within my reach. Help me to render myself unto your full ownership once again today, that I am Yours both now and forevermore.

P.S. I love you.