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 (Mark 12:17). These are reminders for us 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. But, while Christians don’t need to fear death, we are subject to the same forms of taxation as everyone else in this life. 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, are a source of joy and we usually try to meet their demands with wisdom and compassion, rather than resentment. We assume that particular burden or tax, gladly, even lovingly.

Obligations placed upon us by anonymous officials and laws, however, may be resented, or even avoided, if we think we can get away with it. How we feel about our taxes, or  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 the duty of loving and caring for others, and 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 who makes these demands.

Willing cooperation with this particular tax can only enrich me.