The Holy Spirit: God’s IRS Auditor
But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. -Acts 5:1-2
Here is a little bit of tax fraud at its finest. Ananias and Sapphira have sold something, and they have presented the money and have kept part of it secret. They kept some back for themselves. Not a smart move, especially considering who the Apostles had as their auditor. No, it wasn’t anyone from the Internal Revenue Service, it was the Holy Spirit:
How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband. -Acts 5:9-10
I was doing my taxes the other day, and the thought occurred to me, “I can see why so many people must cheat on their taxes… there’s really nobody watching unless you get audited.”
But this is not so with God. Everything is bare and open before Him. You can cheat men, but not God. Even things that are not discovered in this life will be repaid in the next:
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. -Galatians 6:7
And so, both with tithes and offerings, and income taxes, the Lord would have us to paid what we are obligated to pay, regardless of any perceived corruption or unfairness. The Lord Jesus has said:
Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar’s, and unto God the things which be God’s. -Luke 20:25
And the apostle Paul repeats this thought later in the New Testament:
For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. -Romans 13:6-8
And in other places, Paul even commands Christians to obey and submit to masters or bosses around them: even when they are wicked or cruel. He still counsels them to submit! All so that we might not be a stumbling-block or a hindrance to others; so that they may see the love and patience of Christ. But for the stubborn, and rebellious, there is only condemnation:
Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. -Romans 13:1-2
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