“This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.” (Romans 13:6-7)
Time to pay taxes. i never enjoy tax season. However, the Bible clearly states i should pay the taxes i owe my government. i benefit from the goods and services provided by the government. Therefore i should be willing to pay for those goods and services. Does God want me to pay taxes when i don't agree with how my governing authorities behave?
Paul would say yes. Without taxes i would have no police, fire fighters, army, etc. to protect me. Paul argues that governing authorities exist as God's servants. Rulers will answer to God when they abuse their power. If i don't like what my elected officials are doing, i can write them, i can protest, and i can vote for someone else. Surely these are benefits worth paying for.
i don't enjoy paying taxes. i will pay the taxes i owe, though. i will pay them not because my government says i must, but because God wants me to pay the taxes i owe my city, state, and country.
5He called out to them, "Friends, haven't you any fish?"
"No," they answered.
6He said, "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some." When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.
7Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, "It is the Lord," he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water.
--John 21:5-7 (New International Version)
Sometimes you can do everything right and still experience failure.
The disciples were expert fishermen. They knew how to fish, where to fish, and when to fish. They had the right equipment. They did everything correctly. Yet, the disciples had nothing to show for their efforts. These experts failed to catch fish.
When Jesus asked, "Friends, haven't you any fish?", they had to confess no. Notice, however, Jesus did not say anything about how they didn't know what they were doing, that they failed to follow basic fisherman's instructions, or they should abandon the fishing business. Notice also the disciples did not recognize Jesus yet.
Jesus told them to make one almost trivial change, and he gave them a promise: "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some." i suspect the disciples figured the worst thing that would happen is nothing. Then they could tell this stranger on the shore, "See, there are no fish to be caught here." Many of us know when Jesus promises us something, he often understates his promise. The disciples threw the net on the right side of the boat, and the number of fish they caught overwhelmed them. Immediately they recognized the stranger as the Lord. The disciples recognized this blessing came from their Lord Jesus--not their own skills and talents. Note well, the blessing did not occur until the disciples used their talents and skills according to the Lord's leading.
When we fail to accomplish our commission, will we be willing to listen to the Lord's leading? We will be asked to make minor changes in our routine, but we won't be accused of incompetence or disobeying God. We probably won't recognize the Lord's hand when we do the small change. We will have no doubt regarding God's work in our lives when we do his simple request.