Be tax compliant church of Jesus Christ.
This is about the Christian who ought do right by complying with the laws and regulations established by governing authorities. Do not expose yourself to just judgement such as penalties and fines, including the risk of imprisonment because you failed to do what is right.
ERS formerly known as SRA is our revenue agency tasked by the government to collect revenue from businesses and individuals.
Tax collection has evolved overtime as seen throughout scripture. Egypt used 20% collection tax on grain harvest, those who could not pay were required to provide manual labor as payment. (Genesis 47:13-26 ). The Babylonian system relied on tax levied on expected agricultural land. Compulsory military and civil service , forced labour and tributes. (2 Kings 24 & 25) The Roman Empire initially used private collectors for regional tax who were allowed to keep a profit but Caesar changed it to direct wealth and census based assessments.
Jesus found himself in the Roman Imperial system.
“Render to Caesar what belongs to Caesar”. Matthew 22:21. Render to ERS what belongs to ERS. Whenever the kingdoms of Israel revolted against their captors by refusing to pay tribute, they were harshly punished. (2 Kings 17:3-6, 2 Kings 24:20, 25:1–7, 2 Chronicles 36:11–13, 2 Kings 18:7). By law ERS has the right to “punish” you for not abiding by their laws and regulations.
Romans 13: 2 Consequently, whoever resists authority is opposing what God has set in place, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.
3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority? Then do what is right, and you will have his approval.
Apart from earthly rulers and authorities, God also has the right to “punish” dishonesty by means of rebuke and correction. The devil only capitalizes on it to hurt and utterly destroy you. Therefore, do not give him the legal right to do so.
Proverbs 11:1 The LORD detests the use of dishonest scales, but he delights in accurate weights.
Leviticus 19 :35 You must not use dishonest measures of length, weight, or volume. 36 You shall maintain honest scales and weights, an honest ephah, and an honest hin. I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt.
The Lord detests dishonest measurements, in other scriptures it is described as an abomination. This why we should not be lovers of money because the love of money will cause us to break the law of God.
Micah 6:10-11 What shall I say about the homes of the wicked filled with treasures gained by cheating? What about the disgusting practice of measuring out grain with dishonest measures?
11 How can I tolerate your merchants who use dishonest scales and weights?
It is unjust for you to accumulate wealth through false means such as tax evasion and various forms of fraud.
His word says it is harder for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven because of such reasons. Wealth accumulated through dishonest means dwindles. Business people do not deal deceitfully with your customers, suppliers, employees and revenue authority. The Lord himself has the right to destroy that business. At times you believe you are being attacked by the devil when it is simply the finger of God against you. You may be running a legitimate business but lying on your taxes is still a sin. You will blame the devil when ERS comes knocking but it will only be due to your negligence and deceit.
Save yourself the humiliation and frustration of being rightfully caught on the wrong side of the law through audits by simply being compliant. Meet all stated requirements and regulations. Declare the correct amount, weight and measurements and pay your employees and suppliers on time.
(James 5:4, Leviticus 19:13, Colossians 4:1 ).
If you do what is right the Lord will bless and provide you with divine assistance and wisdom in extremely difficult seasons but never be pressured to commit fraud, for ERS, satan and God himself have the right to deal with you.
As he assisted Jacob in accumulating livestock and wealth while his father in law Laban tried to cheat him of what was his, he will surely assist you if you are honest and diligent.
Genesis 30 & 31,
Colossians 3:25 For he who does wrong will be punished for his wrongdoing, and [with God] there is no partiality [no special treatment based on a person’s position in life].
Matthew 6:24. “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
Proverbs 13:11 Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.
The children of God should not deal by any means of deception, for it is not of the spirit of Christ but the devil’s. God cannot protect what is not standing on his word, truth, justice and righteousness. As he expects us to abide faithfully by his law, he also expects us to abide by the laws that govern us, as long as those laws are not in rebellion to his word.
The argument whether ERS’s assessment system is fair or not remains open to scrutiny. You are still required by law to comply until the necessary adjustments are made.
If you are looking to start a business, diligently research to gain all the knowledge and information on how to conduct your business ethically. Do not perish because of the lack of knowledge.
“I did not know”
Be blessed.