Death and Taxes
There is a familiar saying we all know, “In this world, nothing is certain but death and taxes” and I daresay it’s the reason we haven’t written much in the last few weeks. Mid-April brought with it the onslaught of taxes being due and our most precious holiday, Easter, among other things. It was a very busy time, and we have been “recuperating” if you will and getting to all the other things we need and have needed to do (more on those another time).
As to the taxes, I (M) find it interesting that they happen every year. Challenging. And character building. In our family, I do the taxes, as well manage the day to day family finances. Preparing our taxes is one of my favorite things to do (I like the numbers) and one of my most dreaded things to do (I don’t really understand them and I’m usually behind on the family budgets so I have to catch up). I like watching the patterns evolve over the years. I am challenged to grow in patience as I wait for all the pieces to come in (usually one last piece arrives at the last minute - this year it was on the 14th). Many years I fall into sin on that one because I’m chafing at the bit waiting for it, and I have been resentful for it rather than thankful for the way God is using that particular piece to grow me. I am challenged to grow in kindness as I am interrupted while trying to get the work done. I am challenged in my areas of weakness like discipline, neatness (esp. the handwriting) and organization (all those pieces of paper!) . And if that’s not enough, there’s usually a lot going on right at the same time. Examples from the past are that we’ve closed on a house March 30th and moved on April 14th. We’ve had a new baby (due late March but arrived in early March, totally throwing off our plans to get things like the taxes done before she arrived!).
And then there’s always this “death” thing . . . That Easter holiday. Somehow for me it’s always linked to taxes; I’m either working on them or need to be working on them. Think about it - a holiday revolving around someone’s death. Yes, there’s the life part (the resurrection - kind of like how I feel when I mail those taxes out every year - yes, there is life after taxes!). But Jesus died first. Without wanting to really compare these things too closely, (this would be giving taxes far more attention than they deserve, and the death part has no meaning w/o the life part . . . ), there are some parallels that seem to crop up for me each year.
What are those parallels you ask (aren’t you glad you did? I was hoping you would!)? I think there’s there are two big ones in my life - and they are related. The first is that trials bring growth. The “no pain, no gain” principle. James 1:2-3 states “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.” When we look at the disciples, this was the ultimate week of testing their faith. They watched their dear friend die, though innocent. They were scared. They didn’t understand. But God was gracious and gave them faith, faith that stood the test of time (read the book of Acts to see how changed they were by what happened!). Oh that I would someday learn to rejoice in my trials (such as the taxes) rather than whine . . . May I be transformed like the disciples were, and that in time my faith too would be proven as pure as gold!
The other big parallel is the idea of redemption. (Ref. 1 Cor 1:29-31, Eph. 1:7-8 and many others). If God gave his own son to die in my place, to redeem me from my sins (and they are plenty!), and then he conquered death so that those who believe in him may have eternal life, if he can do all that, how much more can he take my circumstances and bring forth fruit from them. Redeem my trials! My circumstances! My attitudes! Even the government and the decisions they make and how they spend our money. If he can bring life out of death, it seems obvious he can bring good even out of my taxes. I take great comfort in this. Look at the example of Pontius Pilate (yes, a direct parallel - taxes, government, and all!). In John 19 (in v. 10 & 11) it states that Pilate said to Jesus “Do You not know that I have authority to release You, and I have authority to crucify You?” to which Jesus answered, “You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above.” It’s called sovereignty. My taxes, my president, and even Saddam Hussein and his friends are but clay in the potter’s hands.
As someone pointed out just yesterday, the sun always shines. It may look dark down here, it may be cloudy and rainy, it may be permanently overcast or full of shadows, and there may be evil pouring out of every pore, but up there somewhere the sun is shining. That’s how God created it to be. And it reflects who He is. God is faithful, and while we may not see Him or how He’s working, He is always there. Always.
And you say so this is why it takes you so long to do your taxes . . . you spend all that time “waxing philosophical” . .. and you may be right, but it sure is fun, and it seems far more worthwhile - at least God and what He does lasts forever . . . my taxes are but mist that will vaporize when the Lord returns - yipee!!
