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Tommy,
I have to agree with Ice when he said "Your feelings are your own. But I tend to operate from the view that the Father comes first... even before the Tax Man. So, why allow the Tax Man to grab my earnings BEFORE I have an opportunity to give the first fruits to the Father?"
You see I also believe the Father wants our all. Proverbs 3:9 says "Honor the LORD from all your wealth, And from the first fruits of all your produce." When you give to the IRS before giving to YHWH is that worshipping YHWH or is that stealing from Him? To love YHWH is to obey Him and not man (Acts 5:29). It is to follow His commandments.
I do what I do out of love for YHWH and a desire to do His will, not my own. I long to be with Him and am hating this world more and more. 1 John 2:15 "Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." v. 17 And the world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of YHWH abides forever."
I understand where you are coming from. IMHO if you put government before YHWH then you do not really love Him. That is based on what His word says. You do not blindly turn over everything YHWH has provided for you to a fraud. YHWH deals in truth and reality, not some fiction or fraud based on man's corrupt laws. Joshua 1:8 "This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it: for then you will make your way prosperous and then you will have success." v.9 "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your YHWH is with you wherever you go." If He is with His children wherever they go, then what has fear got to do with anything? Is He so weak He cannot protect His children. The safest place His child can be is in His will.
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