Bible MBASample

360° Accountability 

They said, Caesar's. Then He said to them, Pay therefore to Caesar the things that are due to Caesar, and pay to God the things that are due to God. Matthew 22:21 AMPC 

When it comes to being proper stewards of financial blessings, it is important to recognize that the Lord wants us to also be accountable to the civic authorities. He left us an example of paying His tax. 

Paying taxes can be a real struggle, especially when there is endemic corruption in the government and there is a good chance that most of what you pay will end up stolen by public officials. But this is really no excuse. Stealing was rife in the days of Jesus, too. In fact, the chief tax collector, Zacchaeus, was a treasury looter who, thankfully, later met the Lord, and repented (Luke 19:1-10). So, we are again confronted with the Lord's example: He paid His taxes even when the government was unjust and full of thieves. 

Importantly, the believer should not pay taxes merely to avoid sanction; whether by God or government. The Bible says, “ Therefore one must be subject, not only to avoid God’s wrath and escape punishment, but also as a matter of principle and for the sake of conscience." (Romans 13:5 AMPC)

Believers choose to be accountable as a matter of principle: the principle that we are to “owe no man anything, ...” (Romans 13:8 AMPC) And so, the commandment is to “Render to all men their dues. [Pay] taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, and honor to whom honor is due”. (Romans 13:7 AMPC)

To live life owing no man anything, you must confront the fear and greed that pushes you to keep back what you shouldn't. They come from a scarcity mentality that is not in consonance with the Word that says, “... God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need be self-sufficient [possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation]. (2 Corinthians 9:8 AMPC)