This week I heard about an incident which involved Congressman Paul Ryan and a liberal professor named Susan Feinberg. It seems that Congressman Ryan was minding his own business at a restaurant when Ms. Feinberg accosted him for enjoying a $350 bottle of wine. (Some of my fellow Baptists would have confronted him for having the wine, but that is another discussion.) Ms. Feinberg must be coming from the point of view that all money belongs to the government. The bottle of wine, incidentally, was paid for by the economists whom Ryan was having dinner with. Even if Ryan had been paying for the wine himself, what business is it of anyone else? I am guessing Ms. Feinberg was not half as upset when the news came out that the American tax payers footed the bill to stock the Pelosi Party Plane with top of the line liquor and beer.
Too many Americans think like Susan Feinberg. They think that if someone has been blessed with more monetary assets than others, they should be made to share. The fact is, most wealthy people are generous with their blessings - voluntarily. The government has no right to redistribute the wealth of one person to another. The 12th chapter of the book of Mark ends with the story we have all heard about the widow who gave all she had to the Lord's work. The last verse (44) states, "For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living." I have searched several translations of this Holy text and cannot find a verse 45 that states that Jesus commanded the rich people to give their money to the poor widow.
We have also heard this week of Christian Lopez who caught Derek Jeter's 3000th hit and gave the ball back to the Yankees organization, only to find out he may owe the government taxes on the gifts bestowed him by the Yankees. I also heard of a lady who makes $64,000 per year but only takes home around $36,000 per year after taxes. All Americans should be outraged that the government will take nearly half of ANYONE's income - regardless of how much they may or may not earn.
I understand that because of lavish spending on the part of both Republicans and Democrats for many years, the government now finds themselves in a financial mess. I think that Senator Marco Rubio said it best when he stated that we need more tax payers, rather than more taxes. I think it is high time the government starts living by the same principles we all must live by. To quote that great political genius Ray Stevens, "But you know you can't run a family much less a country with more money going out than coming in."
To some reading this it may seem that I have (as preachers say when they get off topic) chased a few rabbits in this blog, but it all boils down to the fact that the government for far too long has assumed they have a right to our money and have grossly mishandled it. Don't get me wrong, I am in no way suggesting we not pay taxes - far from it. But I think that all of us who pay taxes should hold our representatives accountable to the way they manage our money. As a follower of Christ, I believe that one day I will have to answer to God for the way I managed the money He chose to allow me to be a steward of while in this life. If we "render Caesar" part of the money we are accountable for, shouldn't Caesar also be held to the same standard?
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