Tuesday; April 18

Well, once again, the tax man cometh! Taxes are due today. Now you might be wondering why it is April 18 rather than April 15 and the answer is simple – sort of. April 15 is a Saturday and the next weekday is Emancipation Day a holiday in Washington, D. C., so today is the day. We may have a three day break, but there is still a day of accountability.

Through my lifetime, April 15 has lost some of its dread. With the insight to have extra taxes withheld, the availability of several for-profit preparers, the sophisticated self-service products and the opportunity to file online, most people don’t cringe when mid-April rolls around. Now, while the day may not be as scary, there are times when the task is not pleasant. Taking money away from people typically isn’t pleasant, especially when we don’t always agree on what the taxes fund. However, I want to remind us of a couple of things that might help soften the blow. First of all, our tax rates are based off of our income, so the more money we make, the more we pay. Those of us with a healthy tax bill can complain about it as long as we give things for the original income that was taxed. I am not arguing the fairness of tax brackets, but I do believe we should be thankful we are wealthy enough to pay what we pay. Secondly, tax payments have Jesus’ seal of approval. Jesus wasn’t all that political, but did seem to be okay with the process. He made disciples of Matthew and Zacchaeus, both of whom were tax collectors. Additionally, He responded to a question about taxes in this way, “And Jesus said to them, ‘Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.’” (Mark 12:17).

As we think about the 2022 tax year, let’s not get down or bitter. Let’s be thankful for the nation in which we live and the God who provides us with the blessings we can share with others who may not be as fortunate as us.

Think About It!

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