April 15 means Tax Day. We frequently hear sermons in churches around this date reminding us of Christ’s admonition to give the things of this world to the rulers of this world and the things that are God’s to our Lord.  These are reminders to keep an eternal perspective.

In the secular realm we are often cautioned in mid-April that taxes, like death, are unavoidable. Christians should feel less trepidation when hearing that old saw.

While Christians don’t need to fear death, we are subject to the same forms of taxation as everyone else. It is how we carry our tax burdens that defines us.

A tax is not only a monetary levy placed on citizens by their government.   A tax can be any sort of burdensome charge, obligation, duty, or demand. How we respond to these taxes depends largely on the source of the demand.

Our children, although demanding, can be a source of joy and we usually try to meet their demands with wisdom and compassion, rather than resentment. We assume that burden or tax, gladly, even lovingly.

Obligations placed upon us by anonymous officials and laws, however, may be resented and occasionally avoided if we think we can get away with it.

How we feel about our duties is influenced by the relationship we have with the entity to which the duty is owed.

Today I am thinking about the obligations I have to Christ.  He taxes me with loving and caring for others, with obedience to him in all things.

If I don’t want to feel a burden from this duty I need to have a closer relationship to the one making the demands.

My willing cooperation with this particular tax can only enrich me.