DUTY TO GOD AND TO THE STATE

Text: Mark 12:13-17

The bible touches every aspect of our lives; religious, secular, physical, spiritual, emotional, social, financial and otherwise. This is one reason we should make it our most trusted companion. With the instructions of the bible we can never go wrong. Jesus caught the crafty in thier own craftiness and showed them the right way. We must perform our duties to God and also to the ruling government. The duties and responsibilities we observe towards the state constitutes our civic rights and responsibility Jesus was specific in verse 17: 

*"Render unto Caesar the things that are  Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's"*

In Romans 13:1-7, Paul also made it clear that believers must be submissive to the ruling authorities, paying the necessary tributes and duties. This goes to say that as christians we are not expected to neglect our duties to the state but rather be exemplary in the way we handle our civic responsibiliities. Many people try to evade taxes the same way we find reasons not to pay tithes. But whether it is evasion of tax or evasion of tithe, the issue of disobedience arises. And as Paul would warn, "we should not be found suffering because we have done wrong or committed a crime". 

It is true we live in a part of the world where taxes are not being put into good use by the government neither are they interested in improving the lives of the citizens, yet we must do our part as children of God while praying earnestly for God's intervention in the national government. Many sections of the Christendom claim they do not sing the national anthem or say the national pledge, yet they go to government schools, and expect government jobs. This is outright hypocrisy. If the government is your enemy then you shouldn't expect to get anything from them. When you receive only benefits from the country where you live but refuse to be accountable or submit your quota to the national purse then you are a cheat. May God help us to examine ourselves in the light of this study and do the needful in Jesus name. Amen.