This Is a "Taxing" Time | The Institute for Creation Research

 
This Is a "Taxing" Time

Pardon the pun. The annual assessment of taxes by our government(s), although relatively recently established in our country, has long been a somewhat disagreeable custom of civilization. Even our Lord Jesus found the subject important enough to comment on when He said: "Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's" (Matthew 22:21).

Tribute Money Is NOT Ours!

Now don't get mad at me. Jesus said that (Matthew 22:21). In fact, the whole concept of "tribute" was initiated by God Himself in the tithe. One tenth of the "firstfruits," God said, belonged to Him! (Malachi 3:8-10; I Corinthians 16:2; etc.). The Creator God, of course, is the ultimate Owner of all things (Psalm 50:7-12; etc.). We are to be His "stewards" (Luke 12:42; I Corinthians 4:2; etc.) and have been delegated the responsibility to "occupy" until He comes back (Luke 19:13; Matthew 25:14; etc.). Every "good" thing that we have comes from God (James 1:17). That certainly should include our financial resources.

Here's the principle to remember: although I have "use" of the money, I also have certain "obligations" for the money. I may have "freedom" to do with the money whatever I wish, but I may suffer consequences and loss of blessings if I choose to ignore the responsibilities to "pay" my "tribute to whom tribute is due" (Romans 13:7).

Investment Choices Are Ours to Make

Ah, but we do have freedom to "invest." God rewarded those who made wise investments with the "pounds" and "talents" they received from Him (Matthew 25; Luke 19). The "tithe" belongs to the Lord—and that should be deposited in the Bible-preaching church in which we fellowship. Our "gifts" and "offerings" may be deposited in Kingdom "investments" that will reap eternal "dividends" in the ages to come. What are you investing in?

ICR requests that you consider an investment in our ministry which confronts the godless worldview of evolutionary naturalism robbing the minds and wrecking the faith of so many in our day. "Investing" with us in this challenging work may yield a great return.

Cite this article: Henry M. Morris III, D.Min. 2005. This Is a "Taxing" Time. Acts & Facts. 34 (4).

The Latest
ACTS & FACTS
Creation Kids: Llamas and Alpacas
by Bethany Trimble and Susan Windsor* You're never too young to be a creation scientist and explore our Creator's world. Kids, discover...

ACTS & FACTS
Dr. James J. S. Johnson Goes Home to the Lord
Dr. James J. S. Johnson, chief academic officer and associate professor of apologetics for ICR’s School of Biblical Apologetics (SOBA), joined...

ACTS & FACTS
Designed to Fill the Waters
Marine invertebrate animals (jellyfish, crabs, snails, etc.) thrive within our global ocean, the largest habitable space on Earth. Their adult...

ACTS & FACTS
Go to Sleep, Wake Up, and Christmas!
One of my favorite Christmas memories happened when my youngest son, who is autistic, first began to understand the excitement of this joyous holiday....

ACTS & FACTS
Pseudogenes Are Not Pseudo Anymore
Introduction One of the past arguments for evidence of biological evolution in the genome has been the concept of pseudogenes. These DNA sequences...

ACTS & FACTS
How General Revelation Can Inform a Theory of Biological Design
Holiness! Omnipotence! Just exclaiming these attributes focuses our attention where it should rightfully go—to God. Another attribute often overlooked...

ACTS & FACTS
Yosemite National Park, Part 2: Glaciers, Seeds, and Biblical...
The beauty of Yosemite National Park is breathtaking, but the park holds more wonders than stunning scenery and craggy heights. And the history that’s...

NEWS
Silurian Horseshoe Crab
Supposedly, throughout the past hypothetical millions of years, sub-human primates became man, dinosaurs evolved into birds, and a group of mammals...

NEWS
Stunning Enigmatic Dinosaur Discovered
New species that are 100% dinosaur continue to be discovered by paleontologists with increasing frequency. One such recent discovery, described as “both...

NEWS
The Coelacanth: A Living Window into God's Design
Imagine a fish designed with such precision that it has thrived in deep, dark ocean waters for generations unchanged, resilient, and wonderfully suited...