Read Romans 13-16
You should have received your W-2, 1098s, or 1099s by now and it’s time to gather your receipts, download Turbo Tax or send all your paperwork to your CPA. Do you dread this time of year? Are you trying to figure out ways to owe less to the government? How to cut corners? How to fudge a little here and there? Thinking to yourself, “the IRS will never know about the cash I got on the side?”
Well in Romans 13:1, we are told that the authorities that exist have been established by God. And we have nothing to fear if we are following the law. When a CHP officer suddenly appears in your rear view mirror and your heart beats a little bit faster and you look down at your speedometer and find you are not exceeding the speed limit, you relax. You have nothing to fear.
In the same way, you have nothing to fear if the IRS auditors come knocking and you have followed Romans 13:6-7, “This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue, if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.”
The Lord Jesus said something in John 14:15 that summarizes how we need to live our lives. He said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” By subjecting myself to the laws of the land, as Paul admonishes us to do in Romans 13, I seek to walk in obedience to, and love for, my Lord.
