Romans 13:6: For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing.
Although we may resent the way our tax money is being used, we are to pay taxes anyway. In this verse the word for minister is one from which we get our word liturgy. It is strictly religious and is the same word used of angels in Hebrews 1:14 where they are called ministering spirits. This means that the ruler occupies a divinely–appointed office. He has no religious function, of course, but he holds a God–appointed office. That makes me pay my taxes, although I resent doing so. We need today a heaven–sent revival. If we do not pay our taxes, we show disrespect to the law, the officials, and the Lord. And this cannot but affect the conscience of the believer. We may not agree with all that is done with the money we pay in taxes, but we dare not violate our conscience by refusing to pay. 1
Application
- The government takes your money, from your check, and you receive what’s left after they get what they want. That’s called paying taxes. Then they use some of your money to finance and promote godless living. Pray for revival!
- Our church fellowship will never “take” an offering, but we are grateful to “receive” all that the Lord will provide, including His multiplied blessings over everything.
Prayer
Lord, this area of submission to the government is very difficult. Please help me.
1. McGee, J. V. (1991). Thru the Bible commentary: The Epistles (Romans 9-16) (electronic ed., Vol. 43). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.