Submit and Serve: A Christian's Guide to Taxes and Authority

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"Pay your taxes." Three simple words that reveal profound truths about our hearts, our faith, and our submission to both God and authority. This message tackles one of the most countercultural concepts in Scripture—Christian submission to government—and uncovers why this teaching remains so challenging for Americans whose national identity was forged in tax rebellion.

When the Apostle Paul instructed Roman Christians to pay taxes to an oppressive government actively persecuting believers, he wasn't just giving financial advice. He was addressing a deeper spiritual issue: what we truly worship. Our resistance to taxation often reveals money's grip on our hearts. "No one can serve two masters," Jesus warned. Our attitude toward taxes exposes whether we've made money our god.

The concept of submission runs throughout Scripture, modeled perfectly in the Trinity itself. The Son submits to the Father's will, even to death on a cross. The Spirit submits to both in His role. This divine pattern shows that submission isn't about inferiority but about fulfilling divine purposes. When we submit to legitimate authority, we reflect God's very nature.

Beyond taxes, Paul calls us to give "respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed." This challenges our cultural assumption that respect must be earned. Instead, we're called to give respect freely to others simply because they bear God's image. As Jesus taught, "Whatever you did for the least of these, you did for me." Our treatment of others—including authorities we disagree with—ultimately reflects our relationship with Christ.

Are you that person bucking the system at every turn, or have you submitted to the lordship of Jesus? The difference between spiritual maturity and immaturity is simple: "A man lives for others. A boy lives for himself." Where do you fall on this spectrum?