HEAVILY TAXED
Today's reading: 2 Kings 17-18

"King Shalmaneser of Arryria attacked and defeated King Hoshea, so Israel was forced to pay heavy annual tribute to Assyria...This disaster came upon the nation of Israel because the people worshiped others gods, sinning against the Lord their God, who had brought them safely out of their slavery in Egypt." 2 Kings 17:3, 7 NLT

If we're not hearing news about the virus, we're hearing news about oil prices or a more common topic year round--taxes.

Heavy taxes.

Wrongly imposed taxes.

Taxes on taxes.

But in the case of the country of Israel in this portion of the Bible, their taxes were brought on by their sins. By their choice to worship gods instead of God. Sure, it was by way of an enemy nation and an enemy king, but it was due to their refusal to turn back to God.

Sin does charge us more than we would ever think it will cost us, doesn't it?

More hurt.

More separation.

More anxiety.

More guilt.

More time spent away from God.

More loss.

Kind of like a tax, isn't it?

Taxes we could, by our choice to serve God wholeheartedly, be exempt from!