Wellll.... tell that to the state of California. One website reports Phil "Unabomber" Laak owes two years of back taxes there, for almost $25,000.
We don't know from that short story whether the state is right, or Laak has some explanation for this. (His Twitter feed seems to be as much about dining as poker these days.) But we know the ultimate right answer....
Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words.... "Tell us, then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" - Matthew 22:15, 17
This was a potential trap for Jesus, since He claimed to be the Son of God. Would such a Son of God consider Himself higher than laws of the land?
Jesus responded to this by asking for a Roman coin....
....And he asked them, "Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?" "Caesar's," they replied. Then he said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." - Matthew 22:20-21
Jesus advised us to pay taxes to the government -- whether you like the rulers or not. Sadly, some Christians spread ideas from time to time about ways to get out of paying them. If they read their Bibles carefully, they shouldn't.
Give everyone what you owe him: if you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. - Romans 13:7
As the end of 2013 approaches, consider this a friendly reminder to get your "poker math" in order. Money you've won probably is taxable, at least at the U.S. federal level.
But oh yes -- did you notice what else Jesus said? About giving "to God what is God's?" There's something God expects as well. Do you know what that is? Comment if you'd like, and we'll discuss that in a future post.
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