"Whose Authority Is It Anyway? Trust, Taxes, and Grace in Daily Life"

Let’s be honest—most of us don’t love being told what to do. Whether it’s your boss, a government agency, or someone with a clipboard and a fake sense of importance, there’s something in us that bristles at authority. And, if we’re really being honest, that doesn’t stop when it comes to Jesus.

Yeah, I said it.

There’s a part of us—big or small—that sometimes gets a little offended at the idea that He gets to call the shots. We say Jesus is Lord, but when He starts messing with our plans, our priorities, our money, or our pride? That’s when the quiet resistance creeps in.

Jesus’ Authority: A Heart Check

In Matthew 21:23-27 (the reading behind today's note), Jesus is confronted by the Pharisees. They basically storm up to Him and ask, “Who do you think you are?” Okay, they didn’t use those exact words, but the tone is there.

"By what authority are you doing these things?" they demanded.

The context is wild—He had just cleared out the temple, flipping tables and driving out sellers. He disrupted their system, challenged their control, and called out their self-righteousness. And they didn’t like it one bit. They weren’t asking Him for spiritual guidance—they were offended.

But here’s the kicker: we’re not that different.

Sometimes, when Jesus starts challenging how we live, what we value, or what we depend on, we do the same thing. Maybe not out loud, but internally, there’s this question: “Who do You think You are to tell me this?” We might not say it, but we feel it. That sting of conviction, that resistance to change, that attachment to our own wisdom. It’s all there.

This is the moment to stop and ask ourselves a hard but freeing question:

Are we offended by Jesus’ authority in our lives?

Real Authority Is a Good Thing

Here’s the twist—Jesus’ authority is not some oppressive rulebook. It’s not about controlling us. It’s about setting us free.

When we truly submit to His authority, we’re actually letting go of burdens we were never meant to carry. We're not called to live under the weight of law, of constant self-assessment, of “Do this, don’t do that.”

Romans 6:14 says:

"For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace."

Jesus' authority is the authority of grace. It's not an iron-fisted rulebook—it's a hand extended in trust. The question isn't "Are you obeying all the rules?" but "Are you trusting Me?"

When you believe in Him, really believe, your job isn't to micromanage your holiness—it's to rest. That’s right. The core command for New Testament believers isn’t “Work harder.” It’s believe. Trust. Rest in the finished work of Christ.

That’s a radical shift from the mindset many of us were raised in. Religion tends to say, “Here’s the checklist, follow it and you’re in.” But grace says, “You’re in—now live in the freedom I’ve already won for you.”

Say it out loud if you need to (and maybe do): "I totally depend and rely on Jesus for my life."

Say it in the car. Say it when the bills are due. Say it when your heart’s racing at 2 a.m. Say it when you feel like you’re not enough. Because that’s when His authority shows up—not to crush you, but to carry you.

Pay Your Taxes (and Smile About It)

Okay, shift gears with me for a second—from spiritual authority to… taxes? Yeah, it’s weird. But hang with me...

Today’s Daily Stoic entry is titled “Pay Your Taxes.” That’s not a metaphor, it’s literal. The Stoics had this idea that there are certain “dues” in life that you just have to pay. Not just money, but time, effort, energy—the price of being alive.

You can whine about it. You can rail against the injustice of it all. Or, you can pay it cheerfully, and enjoy the fruit of what you get to keep.

And that actually aligns with Scripture more than you’d think.

2 Corinthians 9:10 says:

"Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness."

God gives seed to sowers. He blesses givers. He doesn't just drop abundance in your lap so you can hoard it. He gives it so you can give, and in the process, trust Him to supply again.

Here’s where it all comes together:

If Jesus is Lord (and He is), and we trust Him fully (or we’re learning to), then that trust shows up in how we handle life’s “taxes.” Whether that’s literal taxes, giving, generosity, forgiving people who don’t deserve it, showing up for others when you’re tired—whatever those costs are, they're part of the deal.

And when you embrace that mindset, life changes.

Instead of thinking, “Ugh, I have to do this,” you start thinking, “Wow, I get to do this.” Instead of “Why me?” it becomes, “Why not me?” Instead of holding onto every dollar or every ounce of energy, you start letting it flow.

Acts 11: Listening, Giving, Trusting

Let’s bring it home with a real example.

In Acts 11:29-30, there’s a famine coming, and the early church knows it. The believers didn’t wait for a rulebook. They didn’t set up a committee or debate theology. They just gave. Each according to their ability, led by the Spirit.

“The disciples, as each one was able, decided to provide help for the brothers and sisters living in Judea.”

They gave because they were listening to the Holy Spirit. And they trusted that God would take care of the rest.

That’s the model.

Want to know where to give, how much, or even when to step up in any area of life?

Listen. Trust. Act.

That’s not passive. That’s powerful.

Takeaway: Let Jesus Be Lord (Like, Actually)

Here’s the heart of all this:

Jesus has authority. Not just in the grand theological sense—but in your real, messy, everyday life. And that’s good news.

Maybe you’ve been holding onto your own ideas a little too tightly—your identity, your money, your time, your comfort. Maybe it’s time to reevaluate.

Let His authority be what it is—complete—and rest in it. Let go of the need to prove something. Let go of the burden of figuring everything out. Let go of the pride that says, “I’ve got this.”

Because the truth is, you don’t. And that’s okay. He does.

So today, breathe deep and say:

Let that be your tax payment. Let that be your worship. Let that be your rest.

Final Thoughts: The Joy of What You Get to Keep

When you pay your “life taxes”—whether that’s financial giving, emotional energy, or just showing up for others—you’re not losing. You’re making room.

You’re making room for joy, for growth, for deeper trust. You’re making room for harvest.

So don’t just give reluctantly. Don’t obey fearfully. Do it all from the heart—because Jesus isn’t just some distant authority figure. He’s the God who gave everything so you could live in freedom.

Trust Him. He’s worth it.

Are You Ready?

Do you feel distant from God?  Does the topic move you to want to learn more, or develop a relationship with God through Jesus?
If so, please visit this page to find out how close God really is!