“Taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.” Rom. 13:7. What a wonderful command and exhortation this is! Render to everyone what is due them. That is perfect righteousness, perfect order in matters concerning good and evil, as well as hard and easy matters! Then joy and peace as well as the conscience and boldness, will become perfect! Pay for what you have bought; return what you have borrowed; keep what you have promised; pay the subscription to the publication; be obedient to all superiors, to all authorities, parents, teachers, male and female employers, to your husband, to true leaders and elders. Lend the person who is tired and the sick a helping hand; give bread and clothing to the poor, comfort to the despondent, help to the weak; to the one who is misbehaving correction or chastisement; to the upright enlightenment; to the faithful your confidence and trust; to the backbiter a powerful raking over the coals or showing him the door; to the one who judges his neighbor a judgment of himself; to hypocrites, to evil and deceitful workers and those who consider godliness as a means of gain, as well as to false brethren, exposure; to the widow and orphan a defense. Give a good ducking to the person who exalts himself, and to the one who abases himself exaltation; give God’s Word richly to the one who is poor in spirit, to the wise even more instruction; chase away the mocker; expel the evil person; do not give a single word to the fool and do not give holy things to dogs nor pearls to swine; pay attention to all virtues, and give a “Woe unto you!” to those who are rich, satiated, and self-satisfied in their spirit. Give to God the Father thanks for all things. Give yourself and what is yours to Christ and the church. Let your talents and gifts be used well; avoid tying your pound in a handkerchief and burying it, and give your body only the food that benefits it. Compensate your parents for all their labor and sacrifice on your behalf, and give your children what is best for them for time and eternity. Judge all sin; do not associate with people who do not want to continue to depart from all sin. Always give an appropriate answer. Never give up!!!Elias Aslaksen