This is why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him. If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
Ouch! Tax day. Not my favorite day, how about you? But where would we be without government, order, and laws? Anarchy! Rebellion! Lawlessness! Dog-eat-dog days where all people are "in it" only for themselves!
While we may not always like how the system functions, we need to know from God how he wants us to live with flawed people in community. Paul is not naive. He knows he is likely going to be imprisoned and martyred by the Roman government. So, we can follow Paul's example as we seek to be redemptive in our living, obedient in our citizenship, and ask God to bless our countries and bring revival to them. Jesus left us this principle:
"So give back to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." (Matthew 22:21)
The apostle Paul explained and expanded Jesus' principle in our verse today:
Give everyone what you owe him. If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
Now it is up to us, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to live up to that principle even in challenging times!
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Holy God, I thank you that I am free in you and belong to no one and no power other than you. To you, O God, I offer my full and undivided allegiance. Because I want your name and your people to be respected, I will obey the laws of my land as long as they align with your will. I know it is good for the spread of the gospel of Jesus and for the blessing of all people that we be at peace in our world,* so, dear
Lord, I pray for peace. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
*
Romans 12:18;
Hebrews 12:14.
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