Jesus Christ is my God!
Issued 14.04.2001
Taxation and dishonest gain
God recommends the income tax rate of 10%. Too high taxation destroys the economy. The high taxation may be caused by the persons who are aiming at dishonest gain. Some have even received the Gospel of God as a dishonest gain.
Dishonest gain
"A tyrannical ruler lacks judgement, but he who hates ill-gotten gain will enjoy a long life." Prov 28:16
If rulers would hate the dishonest gain, they would keep taxes reasonable. Often the taxation is high because there are so many who love a dishonest gain. What is a dishonest gain? It means getting an economical benefit for dishonest reasons. It is a bribe or a benefit which distorts justice. Do you love an economical benefit without work?
A lottery win is an ill-gotten gain, because it comes by chance. Gambling fever is love for dishonest gain. A profit from the stock market is an ill-gotten gain, if it is only based on a conjuncture, but not on the increased real value of the company. A person, who on purpose remains dependent on the unemployment benefit though he could get work, is aiming at a dishonest gain. "If a man will not work, he shall not eat." 2Thess.3:10
The Bible says that especially leaders should hate dishonest gains. "But select capable men from all the people - men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain - and appoint them as officials." Exodus 18:21 They themselves don't take a dishonest gain and they don't give it to others. They rejoice in the victory of justice and nobody can bribe them and they pray God: "Turn my heart towards your statutes and not towards selfish gain." Ps.119:36
"A tyrannical ruler lacks judgement, but he who hates ill-gotten gain will enjoy a long life." Prov 28:16
If rulers would hate the dishonest gain, they would keep taxes reasonable. Often the taxation is high because there are so many who love a dishonest gain. What is a dishonest gain? It means getting an economical benefit for dishonest reasons. It is a bribe or a benefit which distorts justice. Do you love an economical benefit without work?
A lottery win is an ill-gotten gain, because it comes by chance. Gambling fever is love for dishonest gain. A profit from the stock market is an ill-gotten gain, if it is only based on a conjuncture, but not on the increased real value of the company. A person, who on purpose remains dependent on the unemployment benefit though he could get work, is aiming at a dishonest gain. "If a man will not work, he shall not eat." 2Thess.3:10
The Bible says that especially leaders should hate dishonest gains. "But select capable men from all the people - men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain - and appoint them as officials." Exodus 18:21 They themselves don't take a dishonest gain and they don't give it to others. They rejoice in the victory of justice and nobody can bribe them and they pray God: "Turn my heart towards your statutes and not towards selfish gain." Ps.119:36
The income tax rate of a tenth
God says about the king: "He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage..." 1Sam.8:15
God thinks that 10% is the reasonable income tax rate. Too high taxation of the income is wrong, because it punishes for diligence. In addition it often happens that tax revenue end up in the hands of different kind of swindlers who are aiming at a dishonest gain. The worker deserves his wages, if he has worked.
Because the money value is based on the amount of work which is done, it is economically disastrous to give money without work input. There is justice that everybody gets according to his work input. The taxation that steals the wages of the hard-working persons destroys the economy of the country.
How is it possible that the government must lend much money though the taxation is on a high level? It has lived beyond its means and taken too many tasks. It has decided to take "extra" money away from the people and to do something good with them.
God more expects that individuals practise charity than a government. Because people are bad and don't do good with their money the government has decided to do it with tax revenue. The intention is good, but it doesn't remove evil of man. It only forces it to find out new forms.
God says about the king: "He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage..." 1Sam.8:15
God thinks that 10% is the reasonable income tax rate. Too high taxation of the income is wrong, because it punishes for diligence. In addition it often happens that tax revenue end up in the hands of different kind of swindlers who are aiming at a dishonest gain. The worker deserves his wages, if he has worked.
Because the money value is based on the amount of work which is done, it is economically disastrous to give money without work input. There is justice that everybody gets according to his work input. The taxation that steals the wages of the hard-working persons destroys the economy of the country.
How is it possible that the government must lend much money though the taxation is on a high level? It has lived beyond its means and taken too many tasks. It has decided to take "extra" money away from the people and to do something good with them.
God more expects that individuals practise charity than a government. Because people are bad and don't do good with their money the government has decided to do it with tax revenue. The intention is good, but it doesn't remove evil of man. It only forces it to find out new forms.
Tax evasion is a sin
The rebellion against high taxes has caused the quiet conspiracy against the government. Many accept the tax evasion, because they feel that "the state is such a robber". For the followers of Jesus there is the clear word concerning this matter: "Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue;...." Rom.13:7
So we must pay the taxes as the government has ordered, though they would take too much. A believer pays his taxes because he loves God. "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God." Rom.13:1
Notice that Paul said this to the believers who were subjects of the Roman emperor. So God wanted that believers even pay their taxes to the emperor who persecuted them. Also Jesus said: "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." Matth.22:21
The rebellion against high taxes has caused the quiet conspiracy against the government. Many accept the tax evasion, because they feel that "the state is such a robber". For the followers of Jesus there is the clear word concerning this matter: "Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue;...." Rom.13:7
So we must pay the taxes as the government has ordered, though they would take too much. A believer pays his taxes because he loves God. "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God." Rom.13:1
Notice that Paul said this to the believers who were subjects of the Roman emperor. So God wanted that believers even pay their taxes to the emperor who persecuted them. Also Jesus said: "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." Matth.22:21
The real gift and the dishonest gain
The salvation is the gift of God in Jesus Christ. It cannot be deserved by doing good deeds. Some people consider this gift a wrong and dishonest gain. They think that it is so wrong that a badly lived person is going to heaven only because he believes in Jesus and another who has lived well is going to hell, because he doesn't believe in Jesus.
Their thought comes from this Bible text: "However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness." Rom.4:5 Is God inciting to love a dishonest gain through His gospel? By no means!
These persons don't see that God's gift doesn't distort justice, but this is done by those who try to misuse His gift. Jesus earned the atoning of our sins through His sacrifice. He has the right to give it to anyone He wants. The justice is there that only righteous ones are reaching heaven. The gift-righteousness which Jesus gained for us opens the gate of heaven for us.
The behaviour of some people who confess the faith gives the reason to criticise the gift they received. They continue on purpose their sinful life after becoming believers and they insist that they are saved by their faith though they live in sin. They have received the gospel as the dishonest gain. You also have heard their gospel: "You are allowed to sin how much ever you want and still you are allowed to come to heaven, when you only believe in Jesus." This message blasphemes God's grace and gift.
If someone is won by Jesus, he follows the next request gladly: "He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need." Eph.4:28 "Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody." 1Thess.4:11-12
So do not rejoice in the gospel of the dishonest gain. Although the salvation is a free gift for you, Jesus worked hard for it. Honour His work by surrendering totally to Him. Don't give only 10% of yourself but everything. Then He will live in youand your daily life will be worthy of the gospel of God, for Jesus doesn't sin.
The salvation is the gift of God in Jesus Christ. It cannot be deserved by doing good deeds. Some people consider this gift a wrong and dishonest gain. They think that it is so wrong that a badly lived person is going to heaven only because he believes in Jesus and another who has lived well is going to hell, because he doesn't believe in Jesus.
Their thought comes from this Bible text: "However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness." Rom.4:5 Is God inciting to love a dishonest gain through His gospel? By no means!
These persons don't see that God's gift doesn't distort justice, but this is done by those who try to misuse His gift. Jesus earned the atoning of our sins through His sacrifice. He has the right to give it to anyone He wants. The justice is there that only righteous ones are reaching heaven. The gift-righteousness which Jesus gained for us opens the gate of heaven for us.
The behaviour of some people who confess the faith gives the reason to criticise the gift they received. They continue on purpose their sinful life after becoming believers and they insist that they are saved by their faith though they live in sin. They have received the gospel as the dishonest gain. You also have heard their gospel: "You are allowed to sin how much ever you want and still you are allowed to come to heaven, when you only believe in Jesus." This message blasphemes God's grace and gift.
If someone is won by Jesus, he follows the next request gladly: "He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need." Eph.4:28 "Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody." 1Thess.4:11-12
So do not rejoice in the gospel of the dishonest gain. Although the salvation is a free gift for you, Jesus worked hard for it. Honour His work by surrendering totally to Him. Don't give only 10% of yourself but everything. Then He will live in youand your daily life will be worthy of the gospel of God, for Jesus doesn't sin.
The Bible version used in references is NIV