Why Pay Taxes?

Why Pay Taxes?

Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.

Matthew 22: 21

Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.

Romans 13:1

Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do. Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority.

Romans 13:6-7

There’s something satisfying about working hard and earning money for a job well done. But there’s something annoying about having to give some of our hard-earned money to the government in the form of taxes. Nobody enjoys paying taxes.

Sometimes we dislike paying taxes because we don’t agree with how the money is used or because we find it hard to respect those who make the decisions in the government—especially if those leaders make decisions that go against what we know is pleasing to God.

So why pay taxes? Jesus taught that we should pay everyone what we owe—if we owe taxes, we are to pay them. If we owe respect, we are to give respect. God is the one who made human governments as a way of running the world. We submit to our government and pay taxes and honor our leaders, not necessarily because they are worthy of it or because they have earned that honor, but because we want to please and obey God.

DISCUSSION STARTERS

What are some good things about our government you can thank God for?

Are there ever times it would please God for us to break the law?

Who is in authority over you? What difference does it make in your attitude and behavior to understand that all authority comes from God?