In today’s uncertain economy, how many here want to pay more taxes? Not very many, I see. There are some Americans who believe that paying taxes is patriotic. For these folks paying taxes is a way of saying thanks to Uncle Sam. April 15th is a day of joy and thanksgiving for these Americans.
In the historic Boston Tea Party, British tea was dumped by the barrels into Boston harbor over the outcry of “No Taxation without Representation”. Today unlike the time of the Boston Tea Party, Americans now have “Taxation with Representation”. Through our voting we can choose representatives that support our views on taxation. We can elect people who favor big government which is supported by heavy taxation or we can elect people who favor smaller government which strives for as little taxation as possible. For the latter folks, April 15th is not exactly a day of joy and celebration.
In Jesus’ time, paying taxes to the Roman emperor was a heavy burden for the poor people of Judea. Plus the Judeans hated the Romans who were their oppressors. The taxes of the poor went to build monuments and support flamboyant lifestyles for the wealthy ruling Roman class. So when the Pharisees sent their students and King Herod’s groupies to ask Jesus about whether or not the Jews should pay taxes to the emperor, they were hoping to make Jesus look bad in front of the people. Instead, Jesus once again astounded them. Matthew writes, “But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, ‘why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites show me the coin used for the tax.’ And they brought him a denarius. Then he said to them, ‘Whose head is this, and whose title?’ They answered, ‘The emperor’s.’ Then he said to them, ‘Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.’”
The ploy to trick Jesus had failed. Jesus did not go against the Roman government. Instead, Jesus instructed the people wisely. Wisely, because a tax revolt against the Romans was never successful. It usually ended with the deaths of the protesters.
As for Jesus’ instruction to give God the things that are God’s, this was also wise direction. Jesus knew that it is the Father God’s will to bless His children. So God had made a covenant with His people. He gave them laws and ordinances for the people of Israel to follow. As long as the people obeyed the Lord, then God poured out His blessings upon them. In the Book of Deuteronomy the Lord God warned the Jews of the consequences of disobedience with these words: “Do not say to yourself, ‘My power and might of my own hand have gotten me this wealth.’ But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, so that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your ancestors, as he is doing today. If you do forget the Lord your God and follow other gods to serve and worship them, I solemnly warn you today that you shall surely perish. Like the nations that the Lord is destroying before you, so shall you perish, because you would not obey the voice of the Lord your God.’”
Tithing for Jews was actually an act of worship to God, because it was a reminder to the giver of the tithe from whom one’s sustenance and life itself came. The tithe, which dates back to the time of the ancient Hebrew patriarchs, is a tenth of the first fruits of one’s labor that is set aside for God. The tithe continues to be seen as a holy gift, because it is a portion of one’s income that is dedicated to the Lord. The tithe is our way of saying ‘thank-you’ to God for all that He has given to us. The scriptures teach us that all good things come from the Lord. There is nothing good in this world or in heaven that did not originate from God.
The act of tithing did not end with Christ. As Christians we have even more reason to be thankful to God, because of God’s gift of salvation through Jesus, His Only Begotten Son. In St. Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians, he writes, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you”. It is with a thankful heart that we are to give a tenth of our sustenance back to the Lord. This is why Jesus told us to give to the Lord what is rightfully His. It is not to bring us suffering, but to insure the blessings of God upon us.
For some here the tenth of our portion may have been significantly reduced by the financial crisis on Wall Street or through the loss of a job. Yet, I can tell you from my own personal experience that even when finances get tight, the tithe is not the place to cut back. Instead, it needs to be the first financial commitment made and kept through times of scarcity. This is because it is the Lord God who sees us in our time of distress and carries us through to the other side.
This test of tithing for me came when both my husband and I had lost our jobs. We lived off of our savings while my husband gradually got more work as a consultant. While it was tempting to not pay the Lord our pledge, because we were going through hard times, we chose to keep our promise to God. God honored our sacrificial giving and provided for us. As our savings depleted, my husband’s consulting jobs increased and eventually turned into a full time job. God poured out His blessings upon us and more than met all of our needs.
It is to the Lord we need to turn in times of trouble. This means turning away from fear and doubt and pressing with faith into the arms of God for protection. When we do this the Lord God gives us such a peace in our hearts and His assurance that all will be well. The benefits of God will more than meet our needs. St. Paul writes in his letter to the Philippians, “And my God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” This is God’s promise to all who put their trust in Him and are obedient to His Word.
So if you are wondering what to do during these times of financial uncertainty look to the One who overcame even the jaws of death, Jesus Christ. Jesus, the only One who promises to always be there for us, tells us to invest in the Lord.
As for not paying our taxes, we all know the repercussions for withholding from Uncle Sam what is Uncle Sam’s. The IRS does not deal lightly with those who do not pay their full share. So whether we delight or despair in paying taxes, some how we find the funds to do it. In this part of Jesus’ command most of us are obedient.
Yet, not all of us choose to obey our Lord in the second part of His command concerning the tithe. Instead, we come up with all kinds of excuses, like “I give of my time” or “I give to others”. All of which are good things to do, but they do not fulfill Jesus’ command to give unto God what is God’s. To do this, we need to tithe the first fruits (which I interpret as before taxes) to God which means the church. We know this from the teachings of the prophet Malachi who wrote, “Will anyone rob God? Yet you are robbing me! But you say, ‘How are we robbing you?’ In your tithes and offerings! You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me—the whole nation of you! Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in my house, and thus put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts; see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing.” It is this ‘overflowing blessing’ that Jesus wants us to have, because He loves us.
May we be obedient to Jesus our Lord in our giving both to God and to our country. May we know the joy of having the peace of God that comes from giving with a thankful heart. May the blessings of the Lord overflow on all who give to God the things that are God’s.
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