Tag: Pay

Receive Don’t Pay

I had a hard time this morning determining my thoughts according to God’s Word. The passage I was led to is Matthew 10:40-42 titled, “Rewards”. When I read the passage, it is hard not to think of reward as that is the title of the passage. But my eye and my mind kept coming back to the word I am studying, “receives”, and I am struck by what I found and the impact.

“40Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. 41The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward.” – Matthew 10:40-41 (ESV)

What I see when I look closely is not the reward itself. Yes, there is great reward in receiving Jesus and God through the receipt of the disciples. But look at the others carrying the same reward, prophets and righteous persons. It is not left up to those in defined positions in the hierarchy of the LORD.

We receive from all those who walk this world. Notice my words above, we receive. Not all receipts are rewards. Even those who are not disciples and prophets and righteous have something to give. They will give of what they know and have received themselves.

“15Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?” – Matthew 7:15-16 (ESV)

We have to be deliberate in our receiving of others. There are those who will deceive us into believing that they somehow have something for us that is of great reward. They may have something of value to give, yet they may have obtained it from a spoiled or irreverent origin. There may be surface beauty in the shiny thing, yet once the surface is scratched the truth is exposed to be of little to no lasting value. These will give to us, yet at some point they ask for something in return, making the gift something we pay for as opposed to being a gift.

In our lives we are best served when we receive from the right places. Not those with surface platitudes to gain from us. We should look to receive from those who are giving without the expectation of returns. We should be looking to God, Jesus, disciples, prophets, and the righteous to receive the gift of the LORD for they do not ask for a return gift. God, Jesus, disciples, prophets, and the righteous do not ask for payment, they ask for you to receive the reward and your payment has been made through Christ.

It is hard in this world as we all look to just make it. I know that in my house, I am looking for ways to just get by each day. Thankfully, God has sent disciples, prophets, and righteous people into my life to give to me and help me make it. I have bible study partners, discipleship partners, community group partners, fellow worship partners, Lori, and most importantly Jesus Christ to give me gifts that impact my life. All of these are giving of what God gave them and what a wonderful thing to receive.

Where are you receiving? Are you receiving from those who give and then ask for something in return for payment? What if you received from those who only want to give and not receive some payment later?

Pay What is Owed

As I read and think, I cannot help but reflect on the state of our world today and the total lack of payment to what is owed. This morning I am studying the word “honor”. I was led to the passage in Romans directing me to “submission to the authorities”.

“7Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.” – Romans 13:7 (ESV)

Above are Paul’s words as to paying what is owed. All of those items are sorely missing in society today. How many are not paying their taxes? How many are not paying respect? How many are not paying honor?

When I look at the words from Paul, I have to remember that paying what is owed does not mean that I am agreeing with it. It means that I am fulfilling an obligation. I have incurred the taxes and therefor must pay them. Those in positions of authority have earned the position and should be respected. Those who have given of themselves must be honored for their sacrifices. I may not like to pay taxes, and I may not like the person in authority, and I may not agree with the area where the sacrifice was given. But, all of those things are things that are to be payed out of the it is right to do so.

My youngest son Aarron volunteered to serve in the Navy. He has given of himself for something greater than himself. I could not be more proud of his decision to do so. Am I afraid for him, yes. Would I do the same, I am not sure. The one thing I can say is that I will honor him for the sacrifice that he is making that others may or would not make. I do not look down on others, as they are following their path, and I may be with them as well. But honor is given to Aarron for he has earned it, even if others do not agree with his decision.

Our authorities in the world are in those positions as God has allowed it. It does not mean that they are the “best” for the role, but they are there and deserve the respect of the position. We do not have to “like” the person, but the position is instituted by God and is deserving of respect as a result. Paul points out that authority is from God, and deserving of respect.

“1Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” – Romans 13:1 (ESV)

As for the paying of taxes as they are owed. Even if we do not agree with them, we are to pay them. Paul is simply restating that which Jesus Himself stated, that we are to respect the authority and pay that which is owed.

“14And they came and said to him, ‘Teacher, we know that you are true and do not care about anyone’s opinion. For you are not swayed by appearances, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?’ 15But, knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, ‘Why put me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.’ 16And they brought one. And he said to them, ‘Whose likeness and inscription is this?’ They said to him, ‘Caesar’s.’ 17Jesus said to them, ‘Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.’ And they marveled at him.” – Mark 12:14-17 (ESV)

We are obligated to pay that which is owed. There is nothing in what Jesus says or Paul reiterates that indicates we are to pay more, and there it is not referenced as to what is fair or right, it is in reference to simply what is owed.

I am obligated to pay what is owed. I may not like it, but I am obligated to pay. That pay is not just in the form of monetary compensation, but in the currency of the situation, money, respect, honor, etc.

I am reminded this morning to remove the emotion from transaction and do as the LORD has directed and Paul has restated. I am obligated to pay that which is owed.

What are your thoughts as relate to paying what is owed? Are you fighting and resisting? Think about it, what if you listened to the LORD in the area of your obligations to pay that which I owed?