More or Less

I read a most interesting quote this Sunday morning. I suppose I should have remembered it from my “school daze.” Actually I though “income tax” was a fairly recent invention (think February 3, 1913 for the U. S.) – I should have known better.

“When there is an income tax, the just man will pay more and the unjust less on the same amount of income.” — Plato, Greek philosopher. (Associated Press)

Here at the Church (where I work) I know that God’s people have differing ideas about how much of their income they return to God. Many Churches teach that one should give a “tenth” of their income – never less, and more is appreciated. I am convinced we have missed the concept that is God’s design.

The Internal Revenue division of the United States government has laws that determine what each person is to pay. A phalanx of lawyers and CPA’s can utilize a plethora of obscure and otherwise applicable bypasses to lower one’s share of the tax load. And, of course, some “unjust” folk just cheat.

The Church is a little different – but has the same outcome. God’s design is that each person would decide in his heart (read “innermost being”) what he should return to God. It is not a matter of law, but of llove. It is a matter of commitment, purpose, principal, and reason based on what God has provided.

Plato was right! And the same principal is applicable to the Church of Jesus Christ.