THE KING’S BUSINESS
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ing taxes they are doing a part of God’s service. We are to render to every one that which is his due because of the posi tion he holds. We are to pay customs duties, we are to pay taxes to those to whom taxes are due, and we are to give to all men the honor of which is their due, Monday, August 20 . Rom. 13 : 8 - 10 . Every Christian, and especially every minister of the Gospel, would do well to let the opening words of this passage sink into his heart, “owe no man anything.” It is a plain command and as wholesome as it is plain. Debt is disobedience to God. Debt is also slavery (Prov. 22 :7). Noth ing brings more reproach upon the cause of Christ than a professed Christian and especially a minister who does not pay his debts. But “owe no man anything” means more than “pay your debts.” It means never to go into debt. It means more yet, it means to render to every man what is due to him, whether it be tribute, custom, fear, honor, or obedience (v. 7). Are you doing this? You may not owe a single fellowman a cent of money, but have you paid the whole" debt of honor, gratitude, respect, obedience which is due to different ones? The whole law of God can be put into one word, and God has put it into one word in this passage. That word is “love.” “Love is thé fulfilling (or, filling full) of the law.” He that really loves his neighbor will perform toward his neighbor all that ,the law requires. Love works no evil of any sort to another, so it is not necessary to say to one who really loves, “Thou shalt not steal,” for he wont ste'al, he can’t be hired to steal. It is not necessary to say to him, “thou shalt not kill,” for nothing would induce him to kill. It is not neces sary to say to him, “thou shalt not commit adultery,” he would rather die than com mit adultery. It is not necessary to say “thou shalt not covet,” for he would rather the other should have than to have himself. Love is the secret of right doing. When love really reigns in the heart even the
upon his head,” that is better than hurling bombs at his head. In verse 21 we have the victory of love. Love does not allow itself to be overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. Sunday, August 19 . Rom. 13 : 1 - 7 . The lesson of these verses is a lesson greatly needed in our day. One of the puzzling problems for the believer is the attitude he should take toward the civil authority when the rulers are unconverted men. The rulers in Paul’s time for the most part were unconverted* men, some of them among the worst rulers the world has ever seen. But Paul speaking as he was led by the Holy Ghost tells us that every one of us should be “in subjection to the higher powers.” These powers, even though men who hold the position are wicked men, “are of God,” “the powers that be are ordained of God.” Therefore, if we resist those in authority, we are withstanding the “ordinance of God” and consequently we shall receive to ourselves judgment. “Rule’rs,” even rulers so bad as were the rulers in Paul’s day, are ‘not a terror to the good work but to the evil. If we would be free from fear of those in civil authority, we should do that which is good, and then we will have praise from them. The man in civil authority is a “minister of God” ; not only that, he is a “minister of God to the believer,” and he is a “minister of God to the believer for good.” But if we do wrong we may well be afraid for in that case the ruler “beareth not the sword in vain,” and when he punishes us for wrong doing, “he_is a minister of God.” In consequence of this “we. must needs be in subjection.” We are in subjection not because of fear of the wrath that we will bring upon our heads if we are not, but “for conscience sake,” recognizing the ruler as ordained of God and obeying him in order thus to obey God. We should pay our taxes and our customs due;, for those who collect them are “ministers of God’s service.” In attend ing continually upon this thing of collect
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