Praying Over Your Taxes

Tax day is just around the corner for many of us. I’m sure you’re collecting W-2’s and charitable statements and hunting down other documents just like I am. One thing you may be neglecting during all the run around is praying over your taxes.

Yes, you read that right: Pray over your taxes.

Paying Taxes to a Secular Government

Some believers resent paying taxes because we have a secular government. That blows my mind because what did Jesus say about paying taxes? Not tax evasion. His views on taxation were clear: Pay them. He said clearly, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Matt. 22.21).

But you might say that resisting taxation is justified because the government is corrupt. It’s obvious that the government doesn’t always handle tax revenue correctly. Waste, excess spending, and mishandling funds are all too common.

Jesus didn’t live in a political utopia either. Far from it! The Romans were greedy, abusive, and tyrannical. Fast forward a few years, and the Roman government is crucifying Christ and even persecuting Christians.

Yet it’s in this context that Jesus says give to Caesar what is Caesar’s. How can he make such a claim? Because this earth will pass away. His focus isn’t on the government of today or tomorrow, but on our relationship with him. This is why he says, “Give to God what is God’s”—surrender your very life, your very self.

Christ is trying to get us to have a kingdom mindset.  That’s why we don’t have to be afraid to pay taxes in the here and now—because we’re ultimately citizens of heaven. We forget there is a kingdom that is coming. The kingdom we’re paying taxes to now will eventually pass away, but the kingdom to come is for eternity.

Pay Your Taxes, Then Pray

Paying taxes to a secular government should remind us just how much our leaders need prayer. I don’t know about you, but I don’t pray for my leaders nearly enough, especially the ones I don’t agree with.

Paul told Timothy:

“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.” (1 Timothy 2:1-2)

In these verses, Paul gives us a framework for how to pray for our leaders. He lists out four different categories of prayers: supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings:

• Supplication: This just means asking for something. Ask for God to bless your political leaders and guide them in righteousness.
• Prayers: This is talking to God. Share what’s on your heart about the government. Tell him where you’re at. Lift up your needs and burdens.
• Intercession: Stand in the gap between others and God. Why do we intercede for our government leaders? Because they need help. The President, Senators, House of Representatives, local political leaders—they all need God’s help. Just think: they make decisions that affect you every day. That’s why God calls us to intercede on their behalf and ask for him to provide wisdom, help, and whatever they need.
• Thanksgiving: Sometimes the last thing we want is to be grateful, especially when we’re anxious about the political leaders over us. But gratitude is the secret pathway to joy—and you can always find something to be grateful for. No one arrests me as I’m on the way to church or raids my home looking for a Bible so they can imprison me. I’m personally thankful we live in a country with religious liberty. I’m thankful for those government leaders who do walk in righteousness.

So before you open your tax software or send off your documents to your tax preparer, I encourage you to spend a minute or two praying. Like Paul commands, offer up supplication, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving to God. He’s the only One who can affect true change in our world.

So see paying your taxes as an opportunity to pray. James 5:16 says, “The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”

Prayer

Jesus, You are sovereign over the nations. You are sovereign over our leaders. I pray your blessing on my mayor and my local representatives all the way up the chain to the President and his administration. I ask for them to have wisdom to make decisions in line with your will. Help them do good works for your glory. I’m honestly grieved at the divisions in our nation and our leaders. Lead our nation to the peace and unity that only You can provide. I intercede for our leaders to guide us in righteousness and to be your tools for good. Help them protect our religious freedoms so the Gospel can spread throughout our nation. Thank you that I live in a country where I’m free to worship You without persecution—and that I’m ultimately a citizen of heaven. Bless my leaders in government, give them wisdom, and help them as only You can. In Christ’s name, amen.