"You shall not steal.” Exodus 20:15

For those who are concerned for the legitimately poor—and all followers of Jesus should—God’s answer in scripture is never taxation and redistribution, but charitable contribution. Paul told believers,

Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. Ephesians 4:28

The answer is never to steal. The answer is work. And work not merely to provide for oneself (as important as that is), but to have something to give to those in need.

Are we to pay taxes to our governments? Yes, regardless of what they do with the tax revenue they collect. Jesus told us to give to Caesar [government] what belongs to Caesar, and to God what is God’s” (Mark 12:17). Just as we are responsible to God, so is the government, and they will answer for any and all exploitation of those they govern.

Don’t miss the second part of Jesus’ words. We are to give to God what belongs to God. What is God’s that we are to give Him? The complete answer to that is beyond the scope of this blog, so here is an abridged list: Just as our money is stamped with the images of government officials, every human being is stamped with the image and likeness of God. So we are to give ourselves to God. All of ourselves. Our hearts, our affections, our attention, our obedience, and yes, a portion of our money, remembering that Jesus also sai, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21). And speaking of stealing, the prophet Malachi chided the people of God in his day, that withholding our tithes is nothing short of robbing God (Malachi 3:8).