It’s Tax Day in the United States. Oh joy!
I know few neighbors who look forward to April 15th, except tax accountants whose heavy workload lets up the next day. They look forward to a breather. But for everyone else, the day is often dreaded for the expense it brings.
How to keep a positive attitude about this yearly ritual?
I find inspiration in recalling Jesus’ statement to inquirers asking about paying taxes to Caesar, the leader of the Roman government lording over their territory at the time.
Jesus said, “Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God”
(Matt. 22:21, NLT).
Money is printed by the government. Money comes from the government, and there’s no harm in returning what comes from the government back to the government, one might reason from this teaching.
But the bigger issue is often one of supply. People fear a loss of supply when they write checks to the government. And that’s where Jesus has helped us.
Jesus taught that the best things in life are not purchased with money. They are spiritual. They come from God in a spiritual form. Joy, wisdom, intelligence, health, inspiration, purpose, meaning, worth, and true value, are spiritual states of mind we live out each day.
The ability to live a happy, healthy life is not dependent upon the government. It comes to us spiritually from God, and it keeps coming no matter how many taxes we pay.
When I pay taxes, I think of what I’m grateful for. I’m grateful I have income to pay taxes on. I’m grateful to know that I can feel as rich after I write a check as before. I’m grateful to know that I’m going to keep living my inspired, happy spiritual Life of God that I’ve always been living.
Money is earned. Money is spent. Tax days come and go. But God’s good is forever with us.
O well, yes dear Evan, that’s most wonderful that God’s good is forever with us. Then we have everything we need.
Thank you very much for this comforting divine truth! Gratitude for every good God gives us is richness. And we learn and know that God gives us steadily every good, as He is Goodness itself!
How interesting and nice what I learn about other folks’ and countries’ customs. America has a “Paying Tax day”. Usually one is not too amused paying Taxes. But your today’s SpiritView, Evan is written very positively and, more important, in a spiritual way. Am very thankful for that!♡
Oui merci Evan pour ce post. Remercier, être plein de gratitude pour ce que nous pouvons donner et recevoir. Quelle joie de voir cela ainsi.sachant que Dieu ne nous appauvrit jamais.
Hi good morning, could somebody translate Evy’s comment into English, please? My French is not enough.
Yes thank you Evan for this post. Give thanks, be full of gratitude for what we can give and receive. What joy to see it like this, knowing that God never impoverishes us.
Oops! This is the English translation of Evy’s comment.
Such a very helpful teaching (even though I live in the UK!). Thank you. I will remember this.
doesn’t the U.K. have taxes? I thought every nation has taxes- said the American tax prayer.
Oh yes, we certainly do pay taxes! but not on one specific day like you appear to do in the US?
April 15 is the deadline for paying taxes on your income from the previous year. You have from January 1 to April 15 to gather your information and get your tax return filed. Some people have to pay and some get a refund if their employer has withheld too much money from their paycheck. So you have three and a half months to get your tax paid, not just one day.
Hi Helen, thank you for explaining it so clear. The same way it is here in Germany, only that the deadline is abt. in September.
So I see that Evan says it in a positive way, des in a spiritual way!♡
demand and supply are equal, so there could not be a lack or an overage, but just RIGHT, and that is something to be grateful for, AMEN!
Somewhere it is said “Gratitude is riches, complaint is poverty.” I have often thought of this statement when I am tempted to feel less than grateful for all the spiritual abundance pouring forth from the gifts that God gives us each day — gifts like joy, wisdom, inspiration, appreciation of Life itself, our various talents, and opportunities to help our fellow man and our families.
From our hymnal “Our gratitude is riches, complaint is poverty” “Our trials bloom in blessings, they test our constancy”.
“…the goodness of God endureth continually.” Ps. 52:1
Thank you Evan! I also express gratitude for what those taxes provide: roads to drive on, schools for our children, programs at our local community centers, meals and services provided to those who need assistance. I like to remember, what Mary Baker Eddy says, “What blesses one, blesses all”.
Well said, Adrienne! We are contributing to our communities and therefore are also benefited. I also love the hymn that says, “ gratitude is riches, complaint is poverty.”. I remember going through a time in our early years of marriage where we could barely make ends meet and making a conscious effort to be grateful for every least sign of supply. I remember being grateful for the supply as I paid each bill and being grateful for having enough to put postage stamps on the envelopes. We paid our bills first and trusted God to supply the rest of the needs each month. Everything was always met. I have never really feared lack since those days. I am grateful for what I have and trust God to take care of my needs. I try not to make too much out of money. God is our supply and takes care of everything – even the taxes!
Thank you #SpiritView! Love making the distinction between money vs supply and provision. Keeping our focus on the true source of good, God, and man is forever “throughly furnished”. 2 Tim 3:17
Thank you #SpiritView! Love making the distinction between money vs supply and provision. Keeping our focus on the true source of good, God, and man is forever “throughly furnished”. 2 Tim 3:17
I’ve never seen taxes expressed with such enthusiasm before! LOL But the
spiritual interpretation of contributing to our collective wealth is wonderful to
share. Being retired now and having had paid taxes for years, it is nice to view
this in such a practical way of seeing gratitude and supply for all of the riches that
we have, if we still pay taxes or not. We have all that we need in an abundance
from God’s inexhaustible, eternal supply, because that is really all that is important –
our spiritual wealth.
Adrienne I agree with what you said about being grateful for the many things our taxes make possible for ourselves and our communites. Also appreciate what others here have said about our divine supply coming from our true Source, God, so there is no lack or loss. I always try to think of it this way. I’m grateful that God’s supply in my life makes it possible for me to pay taxes and anything else without it being a burden.
I’m writing tax payment checks today and mailing them out along with my tax forms (I’m old school and still use the paper forms). After reading today’s message and comments I realize there’s a hint of resentment lurking. Wrong thoughts like: our tax laws and procedures are needlessly difficult and overcomplicated, and that the “little guy,” the average worker has to pay more than their fair share. These are very matter-based thoughts that I need to address spiritually and root out of consciousness. Regardless of what it seems like, we know that God gives equally to all His loved children and He causes no excess, deficiency, unfairness or overcomplication. Thanks all.
Thank you Evan for this fresh and much needed perspecitve. I am always grateful for not only being able to pay my taxes, but also for the all the blessings I, my family, friends, neighbors, my community, receives in return in Mind, Spirit, Soul, Principle, Truth, Love, and Life.
“Supply as Spiritual Reflection” by L. Ivimy Walter (AUDIO VERSION):
https://sentinel.christianscience.com/audioplayer/shareview/1bkho8198e2
– Re: Jesus and loaves & fishes story…”As I turned to God in prayer, my answer came: It wasn’t that the supply those people needed increased; it’s that the supply wasn’t limited in the first place. The supply wasn’t in matter; it was in Spirit. Jesus knew this, and he was able to reveal it to everyone. ..A willingness to perceive spiritually God’s abundance is necessary in order to demonstrate it—to witness the evidence of it—just as a willingness to turn on a light removes darkness in a room. Instead of focusing on what we think we don’t have, let’s rejoice that everything is already made, and behold, it is very good.” (excerpt: “Understanding God’s Limitless Supply” by Jane Keogh.)
Thank you very much dear “J” for the article on Real Supply through God, Spirit by Ivimy Walter. We can only listen to it, and that is wonderfully clear, wonderful metaphysics!♡
To the article on Supply by Ivimy Walter I just am adding that this article is really very helpful and healing!!♡
Thank you, Evan, and all, for these bountiful blessings on supply. Always having all that
was/is needed is a tribute to God’s ever present Goodness for each of us and I wish
to express gratitude for having all that I have always needed, just when I needed it.
I am reminded, If God takes you to it, He will take you through it – the way I understand it –
Real supply is unlimited, be it money, Peace, rain during drought, or anything that would
tempt us to believe in lack of any kind. Hymn # 224 is so expressive in demonstrating this
with today’s topic:
“O Lord, I would delight in Thee, And on Thy care depend;
To Thee in every trouble flee, My best, my ever Friend.
When all material streams are dried, Thy fullness is the same;
May I with this be satisfied, And glory in Thy name…
All good, where-e’er it may be found, Its source doth find in Thee;
I must have all things and abound, While God is God to me…
He that has made my heaven secure, Will here all good provide;
While Christ is rich, can I be poor? What can I want beside?
O God, I cast my care on Thee; I triumph and adore;
Henceforth my great concern shall be To love and praise Thee more.”
At tax time every year I used to become filled with anxiety and dread. Through prayer and help of people praying with me, I learned two things. One, I was picking up on the overwhelming feelings of lack and fear of not only taxes but money itself held by many people, including members of my family. So these were not my thoughts. Two, I could lose fear of money by looking at it differently. An article in the Christian Science Journal by Barbara Cook Spencer helped me see that each number in my bank account actually rested on infinity. Suddenly I saw that even if I had one Penney in my account it rested on infinity. This does not mean I have a huge pile of money, but that I will have what I need as I need it. Jesus didn’t have money, but a coin in a fishes mouth paid his taxes! Thinking about this fact of Truth, I lost fear. My finances actually went from deep in debt to being debt free and comfortable. But even now, I go back to the article to remind myself that God supplies my need, without fear and abundantly enough to share. I actually see my good supply was there then as now, resting on infinity.
PS. I did hear an amusing testimony in church on how a woman had to learn even to love the IRS!
When I was a young adult, I attended the same church that Mr. G. Hovnanian (the widower of Louise Wheatley Cook) who was French and had been part of the French resistance during World War Two. Every year around tax time, he stood and testified how grateful he was to pay taxes in the US. He told how he had been captured and was scheduled to be executed. He prayed with the Lord’s Prayer and when he was in front of the firing squad, they shot blanks. That testimony gave me a new perspective on paying taxes and has stayed with me over the years. Loved all the comments on the infinite nature of God’s supply. Thank you all for sharing.
Sharon and Kay, thank you for your powerful comments. Sharon that is an amazing story of Mr. Hovnanian and the firing squad. And Kay what a wonderful healing of fear of lack regarding money. Many struggle with wrong thoughts about money and supply. Do you have a reference for the Journal article you mentioned? I think we could all certainly benefit from it.
Rose, the article is in the Christian Science Journal June 2020, entitled “All figures drawn on Infinity” by Barbara Cook Spencer. Sorry I don’t know how to get the link. It is not a quick read but well worth pondering.
yes we have to be grateful for the income and no that it is not money it is Love from God always available never runs out this was a very uplifting statement from you Evan thank you so much it reminds us re reminds us that God is our supply and we need that moment by moment everyday and we have it thank you , bless and thank you.
This is so beautiful Evan. I just love the way you live your joyous life. Truly inspired.
3 o’clock in the morning here in Yorkshire, England and was awoken by Mr Pusscat a friendly stray who has decided to adopt us. He was asking to go out and it’s always a worry for me. As a dog owner you know where a dog is but a cat is more independent. So Pusscat outside Spiritview called to me. Thank you Evan for reminding me to be grateful. It is not right to allow my fear to stop Mr Pusscat from expressing his individuality we are all perfect ideas of God. I just nearly mis-spelled that by writing perfect ideas of cat but that is exactly what Pusscat is. There was quite a hefty vet bill for him recently but supply, God’s supply is always equal to demand what is there to fear thank you also for the hymn for reminding me God’s care is constant and Love is unlimited
Dear Jb, thank you for waking up with news of Mr Pusscat. Here, a previous email just now viewed from my daughter, contained a video of her dainty cat, Khalesse nestled on her pillow, set up on a table, had me laughing, when my daughter was heard asking Khalesse, “why are you on the table?” Which meant, to me, “because you placed my pillow on the table.” LOL Completely turned my thought to the all encompassing love, trust, perfection including all, the cat, too, by GOD’s eternal goodness. Thank God for the table, and for the pillow where she was resting.
Thank you to everyone lovingly sharing experiences and thoughts here. God’s provison and love is omnipotent so very grateful for Spiritview