Monday 7 November 2016

Joyfully Taxed - Sunday 6th November 2016

How do you feel about paying tax?
It may seem like a stupid question, considering the universal consensus that paying tax is a bad thing. But think again.
The undoubted opinion of the greatest minds in the Bible is that the work of God, and the worship of God, is to care for those who are not able to care for themselves. In Biblical terms that was widows, orphans and migrants.
James wrote: "Religion that is pure before God is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress." Jesus expressed a similar theme in his teaching on the judgment of the nations: 'The righteous will ask, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?” And the king will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these, you did it to me.”'
These are the very things that the majority of our tax goes towards - social security, healthcare, support for refugees, prisons etc. And these are the very things that God delights to see us doing. So, next time you think about the tax you pay, don't resent it, but joyfully remind yourself that you are doing the work of God.

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