First or Last Matthew 20:1-16
Delivered to Smith Chapel UMC on September 21, 2008
What I Didn't Say
My Money--The landowner in this story asks this question in so many words, "It's MY money, can't I do what I want with it?" The question is rhetorical, and the assumed answer is, "yes you can." My assumption, then, is that we should be able to do what we want with our own money.
However, I heard a politician on the radio recently who had a horrifying revelation. He basically stated that they had to raise taxes because the government needed the money. I love the old Ray Stevens song, "If Ten Percent is Good Enough for Jesus (it oughta be enough for Uncle Sam). The government drives me crazy.
If we want politicians to give us a tax cut, they immediately ask the question, "How are we going to pay for it?" Anyone that asks that question should be relieved of his or her office. It's OUR money, not the government's. The government acts like it's their money and any money they let us keep is a favor they grant to us. REALLY?!
The power to tax us comes from US and our constitution. Did they ever hear the phrase, "We, the people...?" Take what we give you and deal with it. They don't NEED our money, they need to judiciously use the money we give them. I say, let's give them less and less and give Jesus more and more.
