VERSE:
Romans 13:6-7 (New International Version)
6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. 7 Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
LESSON:
Does the Bible say that we are to be good citizens?
This may be a controversial verse to share on "Tax Day", but it is actually worth sharing on any day. This verse seems to tell us that God either causes or allows governments to exist, and as Christians, we are to "follow the rules" set by those Governments. Unfortunately, taxing is one of those rules. It also makes one statement that Government officials, who claim to be Christians, should pay attention to when it states "...for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing...". God gives Government officials responsibility over us...but they are called to do so as "...God's servants.". We as citizens are called to "...Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor...". Let us do our best today to be good Christian Citizens, and pray that our leaders will begin to act as "...God's servants...".
