— Christian Stewardship Beyond Legal Boundaries
📖 Summary
Tax saving is wisdom, but tax evasion is deceit.
The Bible calls taxes not a burden but a test of faith and integrity.
Christians are called to manage money within the law but under conscience—
for the goal is not saving more, but honoring God through honesty.
1️⃣ Introduction | “Everyone does it—why should I be different?”
In business, “creative accounting” sounds smart.
But God’s people are not measured by cleverness,
but by conscience and character before the Lord.
Tax wisdom is stewardship;
tax evasion is spiritual compromise disguised as efficiency.
2️⃣ Biblical Foundation | Paying Taxes Is an Act of Obedience
📘 Romans 13:6–7 (ESV)
“Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed.”
📘 Matthew 22:21 (ESV)
“Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
📘 Proverbs 10:9 (ESV)
“Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.”
📘 Luke 16:10–11 (ESV)
“If you have not been faithful in unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?”
→ Paying taxes is not a civic burden; it is a declaration of trust in God’s order.
3️⃣ Theological Insight | Tax Integrity Reflects Godly Character
📜 John MacArthur — Whose Money Is It, Anyway?
“God entrusts wealth for stewardship, not for manipulation.”
📜 R.C. Sproul — Reformation Study Bible (Romans 13 Commentary)
“Tax obedience is an act of submission to divinely appointed authority.”
📜 John Piper — Desiring God: Faith and Finances
“Faithful giving—even in taxes—proves we trust God, not numbers.”
📜 Tim Keller — Every Good Endeavor
“Integrity isn’t a loss; it’s a long-term investment in God’s economy.”
📜 John Calvin — Institutes of the Christian Religion (III.7.1)
“True piety begins with honesty before God (Coram Deo);
where concealment begins, sin is already at work.”
→ Tax saving, done wisely, is stewardship;
tax evasion, done deceitfully, is idolatry—
for it trusts in money more than the Master.
4️⃣ Misconceptions vs Biblical Truth
| Misconception | Cause | Biblical Truth |
|---|---|---|
| “It’s just smart business.” | Pragmatism | Wisdom ends where deceit begins (Luke 16:10) |
| “The government wastes money.” | Cynicism | Obedience honors God, not systems (Rom 13:6–7) |
| “Everyone does it.” | Conformity | Christians follow conscience, not crowd (Prov 10:9) |
| “It’s only a small thing.” | Moral minimization | Faithfulness in small things leads to true riches (Luke 16:10) |
5️⃣ Application | Four Spiritual Tests for Honest Tax Practice
1️⃣ Legal Test — Is it lawful?
Tax planning is stewardship; falsification is sin.
2️⃣ Conscience Test — Is it peaceable before God?
If you must hide it, it’s already wrong.
3️⃣ Transparency Test — Can it withstand scrutiny?
Integrity means “nothing to hide.”
4️⃣ Purpose Test — Why save taxes?
To serve God’s mission, not to feed self-interest.
6️⃣ Conclusion | Tax Is a Mirror of Faith
Tax is not punishment—it’s participation in God’s order.
Honesty may seem costly now,
but it builds an eternal credit of trust before God.
“You may save money by evading taxes,
but you lose your witness in the process.” — Revito
Faith. Work. Renewal. — Revito
📧 revito247@gmail.com
🌐 www.revito.co.kr
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