It may surprise us to think that . . . the Abbey has to pay its bills! It has to write a check to the power company, the water works, and there may, in some countries, be certain taxes to pay as well. (In Cor Unum, we are not tax exempt!)
How LOVELY the way our Father explains these things through His servant, Paul:
Romans 13: 6 and 7 . . . For because of this [submission to rightful authority, set in place by God . . . and by faith to do us good] you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.
Taxes, custom (tribute), fear and honor! That’s beautiful!
By this accounting, there is scarcely anyone in our lives to whom we do not owe something! Oh my!
Reverence to husbands; honor to wives. Nurture and admonition to children, and friendship to friends. Honor to masters and to parents. It looks, in fact, like the development of honoring dispositions and hearts could take us a long way.
Even taxes, paid honorably, aren’t so much taxes anymore as beneficence and investment in our communities. Remember that admonition to be transformed by the renewing of our minds? Opportunities abound!
Cor Unum Abbey 