Thieves seldom launch their criminal activities by robbing banks.

It starts on a much smaller scale, perhaps with sweets off a counter, but can quickly escalate if not challenged. Some of those men (and women) I have worked alongside as Prison Chaplain began their life of crime by pinching chocolate bars.

Most sin begins in an almost insignificant manner, but given the characteristics of evil it grows rapidly.

Dishonesty wrecks relationships.

Stealing goes against the Will of God and the Word of God and places a man outside the blessing of God.

Pilfering is not and never petty.

Tax evasion is not clever. Now most of us do not like paying our taxes, but they are for the services which go on around us in our communities - for the Police, Education, the Military, the Health Service, and Roads etc., and those who handle the tax billions have a responsibility to do so in a way that is generally acceptable to the majority of the populace.

Some men, who pretended to be honest, approached Jesus Christ with this question, “Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” Their intention was to trap Jesus and hand Him over to the governing authority.

Yes, it is possible to approach Jesus with suspect impure motives, but Jesus saw right though their duplicity. Jesus asked these spies, for that is what they were, for a coin and posed the question, “Whose portrait and inscription are on it?” “Caesar’s,” they replied.

Jesus continued, “Then give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.”

They must have been stunned, as Jesus took then further than they had anticipated. They were obviously not giving to God what God was due.

If Caesar provides you with soldiers and protection, pay him. If the Government provides you with Police, Health, Education, Welfare Services, etc. pay up, as you are able to.

Taxes are not bad. Disciples of Jesus Christ should never complain at having to pay legitimate taxes. We have to pay for Government and that was taught in Israel when it was being ruled by a foreign occupier. It is a remarkable statement which God has incorporated into His word, but what an encouraging guideline when we have to fill out our tax returns. You will find it in Romans Chapter 13 should you wish to check!

Whatever the weaknesses or flaws in the system, and every system has its faults, just visit some of these other nations where the benefits we enjoy in this country are non-existent.

Give to Caesar what is his - and to God what is His. Which do you find the more difficult?

Sandy Shaw

Sandy Shaw is Pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship, Chaplain at Inverness Prison, and Nairn Academy, and serves on The Children’s Panel in Scotland, and has travelled extensively over these past years teaching, speaking, in America, Canada, South Africa, Australia, making 12 visits to Israel conducting Tours and Pilgrimages, and most recently in Uganda and Kenya, ministering at Pastors and Leaders Seminars, in the poor areas surrounding Kampala, Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu.

He broadcasts regularly on WSHO radio out of New Orleans, and writes a weekly commentary at http://www.studylight.org entitled “Word from Scotland” on various biblical themes, as well as a weekly newspaper column.

His M.A. and B.D. degrees are from The University of Edinburgh, and he continues to run and exercise regularly to maintain a level of physical fitness.

Sandy Shaw

sandyshaw63@yahoo.com

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