THANKS FOR THE HELP ON TAXES
June 2004
Once upon a time the government had a vast scrap yard in the middle of a desert. Congress said someone may steal from it at night; so they created a night watchman, GS-4 position and hired a person for the job.
Then Congress said, How does the watchman do his job without instruction?" So they created a planning position and hired two (2) people, one person to write the instructions, GS-12 and one person to do time studies, GS-11. Then Congress said, "How will we know the night watchman is doing the tasks correctly?"
So they created a Q. C. position and hired two (2) people, one GS-9 to do the studies and one GS-11 to write the reports. Then Congress said, "How are these people going to get paid?" so they created the following positions, a time keeper, GS-09, and a payroll officer, GS-11, and hired two (2) people.
Then Congress said, "Who will be accountable for all of these people?" So they created an administrative position and hired three (3) people, an Admin. Officer GM-13, Assistant Admin. Officer GS-12, and a Legal Secretary GS-08.
Then Congress said, "We have had this command in operation for one year and we are $18,000 over budget, we must cutback overall cost,"
So they laid off the night watchman.
I hope that our next federal gov’t would be using our tax money in a better way. Hope you will cast a vote for a responsible and wise govt. But today, I am just grateful to all of you here who has given up time and energy to be here to help people get their taxes down. I wonder if you know that what you did to help folks with their taxes is actually a thing that Jesus Himself was proud to do. Did you know He supported the paying of taxes? If you would, would you hear me as I read a story from the Bible?
15Then the Pharisees met together to think of a way to trap Jesus into saying something for which they could accuse him. 16They decided to send some of their disciples, along with the supporters of Herod, to ask him this question: "Teacher, we know how honest you are. You teach about the way of God regardless of the consequences. You are impartial and don’t play favorites.
(These guys where sneaky, after trying to butter up Jesus, moving in for the kill)
17Now tell us what you think about this: Is it right to pay taxes to the Roman government or not?"
(if Jesus say pay tax – that means he supports the hugely unpopular rule of their foreign conqueror, the Romans. Sort of like how pro Saddam Iraqis feel about the American occupation of Iraq. What?!! support the evil empire? If He says no tax then they will report Him as unpatriotic to their fellow Jews, unconcerned with those who suffered under their harsh rule. What makes this all the more sinister is there is this coalition, cooperation of the Pharisees who were patriots, ardent nationalists, and the Herodians who were living in the lap of luxury as a puppet government of the Romans.
18But Jesus knew their evil motives. "You hypocrites!" he said. "Whom are you trying to fool with your trick questions? 19Here, show me the Roman coin used for the tax." When they handed him the coin, 20he asked, "Whose picture and title are stamped on it?"
21"Caesar’s," they replied.
"Well, then," he said, "give to Caesar what belongs to him. But everything that belongs to God must be given to God." 22His reply amazed them, and they went away. Matt.22:15-22 (NLT)
Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s! Perhaps you have heard of that line before. Yes, Jesus never did advocate not paying your taxes. God ordained governments, and they need money to govern, built roads, protect us etc. But I think the piercing question that Jesus addressed the co-conspirators was - have you given to God what is God’s?
A very successful lawyer parked his brand new Lexus in front of the office, ready to show it off to his colleagues. As he got out, a truck came along, too close to the curb, and completely tore off the driver’s door of the Lexus.
The counselor immediately grabbed his cell phone, dialed 911, and it wasn’t more than 5 minutes before a policeman pulled up. Before the cop had a chance to ask any questions, the lawyer started screaming hysterically.
His Lexus, which he had just picked up the day before, was now completely ruined and would never be the same, no matter how the body shop tried to make it new again.
After the lawyer finally wound down from his rant, the cop shook his head in disgust and disbelief. "I can’t believe how materialistic you lawyers are," he said. "You are so focused on your possessions that you neglect the most important things in life."
"How can you say such a thing?" asked the lawyer.
The cop replied, "Good grief man, don’t you even realize that your left arm is missing? It got ripped off when the truck hit you!!!"
"Oh my!" screamed the lawyer, looking down at his missing arm. "Where’s my Rolex?"
Jesus Himself said in Luke 12:15 (NIV) “A man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” Isn’t that wise? So cool! But this lawyer lived for his stuff, his Lexus and Rolexes and we can see how silly that is, to be concerned with merely the stuff of this world, while you are bleeding to death! The things of this world could be ripped from your arm any moment and they will eventually become like a XT PC in a world of Pentium 4s.
Just watched a movie called “The Day After Tomorrow” and in that movie you see people evacuated from the US to Mexico because of natural disasters hitting the US. Mexico couldn’t handle the hordes of people fleeing the States crossing the Rio Grande, they closed the borders. Next you see folks abandoning not only the homes they left, but also their cars as they scramble across the river after they heard the border was closed, carrying their bags, most of all herding their families. At the end of the day, it was not about how much stuff they could carry, it is all about getting your loved ones safely across, away from impending disaster and doom. Relationships matter the most!
At the end of the day, it is not about the accumulation of stuff; it is about the most precious things to God, that is you and me. So God launches a rescue mission, clearly seen in the passion of the Christ. Look at what the Bible says…
“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.” 1 John 3:16 (NIV)
“God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again.” John 3:17(The Message)
That’s why Jesus mission prompted him to tell the Pharisees and the Herodians, I want you to get the message, give to God what is God’s, that is your lives. He made you to love you. He made you to be part of His world, He thinks the world of you. God loves you, do you get it? God wants - not your money, or stuff, He just wants His children, His family, He wants His beloved ones to get home, without a hitch, without us scrambling around trying to figure which form to fill, how much money to accumulate, how much back taxes we owe.
The way that you help others get their taxes done right, you were not there to point fingers, there to serve to help to get it right for those who can’t get it right. That’s what God does for us, he knows we cannot get it right, we messed up, but He offers to help put it right, He comes and offers us forgiveness, clearing of all our debt. God did not go through all the trouble just to make folks feel bad, no he came to love and to help us out and bring us home?
Have you given to God what is God’s? Your heart, your life, you are God’s! But have you given him voluntarily your love? I hope today you will not just be amazed at the love of Christ, but that you will want to sign up with Him for the rest of your life and to get to know Christ better. If I can help, I’ll be glad to do it with you!
Another thing, thanks for coming today. I appreciate you and my hope is that you are strengthened and encouraged today to know that God loves you and what you did by helping others out, if you know this God at all, reflects a bit of what He wants to convey to a world that has so much messed up and filled with bad news. I like it that Jesus does not twist our arm but laid down his life for you and me. Let me encourage you to dig deeper into God’s love!
