One of the most recent debates is that of increasing GST. As usual, some advocate no increase but wants more pay-out, and no good solution for the government to work on. It is always easy to gain popularity to give pay-out, but where is the money coming from?

Paying taxes had been a proverbial hot topic since the beginning of time. Everybody wants ‘freebies’ but no one wants to pay for it. Therefore, there are many who will go through great extent to evade the paying of taxes.

I am no saint. I hate to pay taxes as much as anyone. The only difference for me maybe is that I try to convince myself that it is needed. The good facilities around me cannot be taken for granted. The beautiful parks, clean surroundings, efficient public transportation, competent public service, affordable healthcare, etc…. Somebody got to pay for it and part of it comes from our taxes. For me, paying a greater amount of taxes also meant that I am earning more money. Paying more GST means that I am able to buy more. If I want to pay less through GST, then I buy less or cheaper stuff. It is as simple as that. No one can drive two cars at the same time. The one who buys one pay less GST than the person who bought more than one, simple logic.

What does the bible tell us about taxes? Well, render unto Caesar that belongs to Caesar. The money collected is for the good of the nation and society. Yes I know, you will talk about abuses of the system. Well, we cannot deny that there are people who will cheat the system from either end. But does that constitute a reason to throw it out of the window? No! The only way to throw that out is for us to come out with a better system. If not, that system will remain till it happens.

Brothers and sisters, the fallen human will rebel against anything and everything. Look at how the humankind rebel against the rule of God and wanted a king to rule over them instead. As Christians, we should do our best to care for our society so that all of us can be blessed in it. Those in authority will eventually answer to God. As for us, we live a life trusting and honouring God.

God bless,
In Christ’s service,

Barry Leong

最近备受争议的课题之一就是消费税的增加。及如往常，有些人主张不加税但是却要求有更多的回扣，而没有给政府建议良好的政策。 以回扣取得民心是容易的，但是钱又从哪里来呢？

从一开始，缴付税收就是众所周知的热门话题。大家都希望“免付费”却没有人愿意有所付出。因此，就有人以极端的方式逃避税收。

我不是圣人。我也像其他人一样讨厌缴税。唯一不同的或许就是我尝试说服自己这是必要的。在我周围的美好设施绝不是理所当然的。美观的公园、干净的环境、有效的公共交通、称职的公共服务、负担得起的医疗等等….必须有人缴付这些费用，而其中有些就出自我们的税收。对我而言，缴付更高的税收表示我在赚取更多的金钱。缴付更多的消费税也表示我有更强的购买能力。如果我要缴付少一点的消费税，那么我就减少购物或购买较廉价的物品。就是这么简单。没有人可以同时驾驶两辆汽车。那买一辆车的就比那买两辆车的人少付消费税，这是简单的逻辑。

圣经如何教导我们有关税收的事？该撒的物当归给该撒。所收取的钱财是为了造福国家和社会。是的，我知道，你会提到滥用系统。我们不能否认会有人以不同方式欺诈这个系统。但是这能成为我们将之舍弃的原因吗？不能！唯一能让我们将之舍弃的就是寻找一套更好的系统。否则，这系统必须保留到它发生。

弟兄姐妹，堕落的人类会对抗任何及一切事物。看看人类是如何悖逆上帝的统治而要求一位君王来管辖他们。身为基督徒，我们必须竭尽所能关怀我们的社会，使我们自己也能蒙福受益。那些执政者至终要向上帝交代。至于我们，我们要活出信靠并尊崇上帝的生命。

上帝赐福，
主里同工的，

Barry Leong