IT’S TAX DAY!

IT’S TAX DAY!

1 Sam 8:10-18

10 And Samuel told all the words of the Lord  unto the people that asked of him a king.

11 And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots.

12 And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots.

13 And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers.

14 And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants.

15 And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.

16 And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work.

17 He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants.

18 And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the Lord  will not hear you in that day.

          Today is “tax day” in America. It is the deadline for filing personal income taxes with the federal (and most states) government. I know of no one who enjoys this process but it would be easy enough to find someone on this day to willingly curse it.

           The very first mention of any kind of tax is found in Exodus 30:11-16. Every Jew from 20 years old and upward was to pay one half shekel annually for the upkeep of the sanctuary. “Maimonides writes (Laws of Shekalim 1:5) that the half shekel mentioned in the Torah – the annual tithe every Jew was required to give to the Temple coffers – is equal to 160 grains of barley, which, in modern measurements, would be approximately eight grams of silver. It is impossible to know silver's value in biblical times. At today's rate of approximately 17 US dollars per ounce, 8 grams of silver is around five dollars. Rabbi Eliezer Posner

          Tax collectors challenged Peter and Jesus regarding the annual tax (please read Matthew 17:24-27). Jesus launched the idea of exemption from and compliance with the tax. Having no money, he sent Peter to cast a hook and draw out a fish. Inside the fish’s mouth would be a “piece of money” sufficient to pay for both Peter and Jesus! We wish it were that simple today!

          We understand the need for a fair and equitable tax. “The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel.” Ex 30:15 We understand the need to insure domestic tranquility and to provide for the common defense. Mostly we just want to be left alone! If Patrick Henry thought taxation without representation was bad, he should see it with representation!

Prov 29:2

2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.

Ezra 8:21

21 Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.

Dear Lord, provide for your taxpaying children today. Put down wicked rulers and restrain their evil deeds. Give us a heart to know you and to love you. Give us leaders after your own heart. AMEN

PERSERVERING THROUGH PAIN!

PERSERVERING THROUGH PAIN!

2 Cor 4:16-18

16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

          Someone said “pain is inevitable but misery is optional.” I know many saints who go smiling through life and you would never know the pain they carry. I know others who whine through life and are all too eager to fully describe to you their pain. The difference is what Paul calls “the inward man.”

          Pain occupies our mind relentlessly demanding our first and exclusive consideration. We can allow this pain to invade all areas of our life or we can drag it along like an unwelcome guest. I think Paul offers us several suggestions for dealing with our pain.

1. FOCUS ON OUR RENEWABLE RESOURCE!

The outward man is wearing away. In fact the meaning of the word “perish” in verse 16 is not pleasant for it means “to rot thoroughly.” On the other hand the inward man, that spiritual part, is being freshly renewed day by day and will never die!

John 11:26

26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

2. GAIN A GODLY PERSPECTIVE!

Paul calls it “light” affliction and yet he was beaten with rods, stoned and left for dead, chained in the stocks hands and feet, and shipwrecked. Most of us would not consider that to be light. Paul also shows us his perspective on the duration of affliction. He says it is “but for a moment.” He focused on that which was going to last.

2 Cor 12:7-9

7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.

Paul complained most, not about shipwreck, but about what he called a thorn in the flesh. While we are not told what it was, whether physical or mental anguish, we know that it was persistent and would not go away. Ultimately he finished his ministry leaning weakly on the strength of Christ.

3. SEE THE FRUIT OF PAIN BRAVELY BORNE!

Paul said that pain “works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” The Greek for “worketh” means to accomplish, finish, and fashion.” So we see that it was the pain that was the agent of change. It is the cause while glory is the result. That is why Paul was able to boldly say: “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (2 Cor 12:9)

We are quick to give the Devil his due but Paul knew that when pain was present God was at work.

Savior, today I could focus on my pain or I could focus on your strength. Let me choose rightly. AMEN

LAZARUS ALSO!

LAZARUS ALSO!

John 12:9-13

9 Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.

10 But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death;

11 Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.

12 On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,

13 Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.

          Jesus had determined to spend the last few days of his life in Bethany at the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. Three tiring years of ministry lay behind him and the cross lay before him. He sought the peace that Bethany always provided. True to their personalities, Martha busied herself about domestic chores while Mary worshipped at the feat of Jesus. We have no recorded words or actions of Lazarus! In spite of this, he was a target of the chief priests who wanted to put him to death – again!

                Living did not make Lazarus very popular with the “dead.”  The resurrected life was witness enough to lead many to Jesus. If Lazarus were here with us, and if he would speak, I’m sure he would recommend a resurrected life to us all. Paul caught the significance of this in Galatians 2:20 when he wrote: “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

          The chief priests decided to leave Lazarus alone and focus on Jesus. Perhaps that is why they shouted at the foot of the cross: “He saved others; himself he cannot save!” (Mark 15:31) As the conspiracy boiled in the Temple, Jerusalem prepared to crown their king. “They took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.”

Dear Lord, I feel a kinship with Lazarus. I too was “dead in trespasses and in sins” but you gave me new life. I am no longer very popular with the “dead.” Let my very life be a witness that leads many to Thee. AMEN