Christians & Government,pt1-Romans 13:1-7

The local bar patrons were so sure that their bartender was the strongest man around that they offered a standing $1000 bet. The bartender would squeeze a lemon until all the juice ran into a glass and hand the lemon to a contender. Anyone who could squeeze just one more drop of juice out of the lemon would win the money. Many people had tried over time (weightlifters, longshoremen, and so forth) but nobody could do it. One day a short, thin, balding, little man came into the bar, wearing thick, black-rimmed glasses and a drab, gray suit. He announced to the bartender in a faint, warbled voice, “I’d like to try the bet.” After the laughter had died down, the bartender said, “okay,” grabbed a lemon, and squeezed away. Then he handed the dry, wrinkled remains of the lemon rind to the guy in the suit. The man clenched his fist around the lemon and the crowd’s laughter turned to total silence as one drop fell into the glass— then another and then another. Six drops, in all, were squeezed from the emaciated lemon rind. “As the crowd cheered, the bartender paid the $1000, and said to the man, “You’re obviously not a lumberjack or a weightlifter. What do you do for a living?” An almost imperceptible smile came across the little man’s lips as he replied in a quiet, but satisfied voice, “I work for the IRS.” Now we laugh at that story but every year around this time we’re reminded just how true it is! The recent Tax season we went through, not surprisingly, reminds us of the obligation we have to the government, especially as we recognize its purpose in the plan of God. This coming Lord's Day we'll look at Romans 13 and how Christian citizens of Heaven live in the land of man. Join us for "The Christian and Government."