Now the sons of Hassenaah built the Fish Gate; they laid its
beams and hung its doors with its bolts and bars. (Nehemiah 3:3 NAU)
The Fish Gate was the place of commerce, the location for
buying and selling of merchandise, produce, and livestock. It was here that
one's personality and integrity rose to the surface. A merchant's reputation
was, and still is, largely based on his integrity. Could you trust him or her
to be honest in business dealings?
Here we guard our places of business against the principles
and attitudes of this world. We apply, instead, the principles of God's Word to
our business affairs.
Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes;
if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. Let
no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for
he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. (Romans 13:7-8 NIV)
One of the most disappointing things I see today is
followers of Christ bragging about avoidance of taxes. Jesus paid taxes, even
though He is the Owner, Ruler, and Creator of everything on earth. I might add
that Jesus paid taxes to a less than stellar government. He taught his
followers to do the same. And he made it clear that our effort should not be to
see how many ways we can "beat the system" and avoid paying taxes we
genuinely owe.
Nonetheless, we should be good stewards and take
every legitimate tax deduction we are allowed. But we should not be dishonest—not even to the intent of the tax law much
less the actual tax code. Outsmarting the Internal Revenue Service is not a
worthwhile ambition.
Yes, our integrity in business dealings goes a
long way in defining how people see us. We must guard this gate of our heart
well.
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