The story is told of a local fitness center that was offering $1000 to anyone who could show they were stronger than the owner of the gym. Here’s how it worked: The muscle-bound owner would squeeze a lemon into a glass until all the juice was gone. Then he would hand the lemon to the challenger. Anyone who could squeeze just one more drop of juice from the lemon would win the money.
Over time many people tried to best the owner - other weightlifters, construction workers, even professional wrestlers but nobody could.
Then one day, a small, skinny man in a suit came in. He had come for other business, but when he heard about the challenge, he said he wanted to give it a try. When the laughter finally died down, the owner grabbed a lemon and squeezed away. Then he handed the wrinkled remains to the little man.
The crowd’s laughter soon turned to silence as the man proceeded to squeeze six drops of juice from the lemon. The crowd cheered. As the owner counted out the prize money, he asked the little man what he did for a living. “Are you a lumberjack or weightlifter or what?” he asked.
The man in the suit quietly replied, “I work for the IRS.”
At this very moment, millions of Americans are preparing their tax returns. They are gathering the requisite receipts and documents. They are frantically searching for any possible deductions. They are hoping for a big tax refund.
By April 15, however, few will be happy. Nobody enjoys paying taxes.
In Romans chapter thirteen, the Apostle Paul talks about our relationship with the government. He reminds us that the governing authorities who rule over us have been established by God.
When we honor and obey the government, we are honoring and obeying God. When we dishonor and disobey the government, we are dishonoring and disobeying God.
God has placed the government over us for our good. We often forget that as we see sinful men and women in our government lie, steal, and make poor decisions. But imagine a world with no government, no police, and no law and order.
Anarchy and violence would reign.
We are blessed by God to have the government we have - even with all its failings and foibles. One of the ways Paul specifically mentions in Romans 13 that we can honor and obey the government is by paying our taxes (Romans 13:6,7).
I know nobody wants to hear this. I know that people probably won’t be happy that I’m writing this, but paying your taxes is not optional for a Christian. Lying or bending the truth on your tax return is a sin. In doing so, you are stealing from the authorities God has placed over you. Even if you disagree with how the government uses our taxes - even if the government is unjust and unwise - God wants you to pay your taxes.
If you can legally deduct certain amounts - if the government allows you loopholes through which you can save money - by all means, make use of them. That isn’t wrong. But paying the taxman - no matter how painful or frustrating it may be - is our duty as Christian citizens of this country.
As Jesus said, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s” (Mark 12:17). So, bite the bullet, pay your taxes, and trust that God will provide all that you need and more.
Pastor Andrew Schroer lias been a pastor for over 25 years and is currently serving at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Edna, Texas. You can find his latest books, “364 Days of Thanksgiving” and “364 Days of Devotion , ” on Amazon .com.
