Verse of the Day 9/25

 

Romans 13:7   Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.  English Standard Version (ESV)

 

We now move on to Romans 13 where today's passage talks about government and taxes.The Message (below) does a good job of summing it up.  We pay taxes so that an orderly life may be maintained.  Where would we be without government, without laws, without those who uphold and enforce those laws that are there to protect us.  We may object to some of the things that are done with our taxes and these can be challenged in the right way.  But if we are citizens, we owe taxes.

 

As is usually the case in Paul's writings, the responsibility of a Christ follower go beyond the tax code.  Not only are we to pay taxes but we are to give respect and honor to those who deserve it.  This applies to those in our homes, churches, workplace and governments.  We can disagree on some things without disrespecting and dishonoring others.

 

We may wish, hope, and pray that our government leaders would have this attitude in the debates that are going on right now.  But we can do our part in our little corner of the world by paying what we owe, yes in taxes, but more so in love, honor and respect to those who who deserve it.  "You can't go wrong when you love others. When you add up everything in the law code, the sum total is love"  Romans 13:10 The Message.

 

In Christ,
Mike

 

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Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV

Romans 13:6-10

The Message (MSG)

^6-7 That's also why you pay taxes—so that an orderly way of life can be maintained. Fulfill your obligations as a citizen. Pay your taxes, pay your bills, respect your leaders.

^8-10 Don't run up debts, except for the huge debt of love you owe each other. When you love others, you complete what the law has been after all along. The law code—don't sleep with another person's spouse, don't take someone's life, don't take what isn't yours, don't always be wanting what you don't have, and any other "don't" you can think of—finally adds up to this: Love other people as well as you do yourself. You can't go wrong when you love others. When you add up everything in the law code, the sum total is love.