Paying our taxes

"Once the tax collectors came to Peter and asked him, 'What then, does your teacher not pay taxes?'

Peter said, 'No, he does not pay,' and he went and told Jesus that they had stopped him, and told him everyone is required to pay taxes.
Then Jesus said to him, 'The king doesn't collect taxes from his own sons, after all, and other than the king no one requires payments. Right? It is just the same with us. If we are the sons of God, then we are not obligated to anyone other than God and we are free from all other possible obligations. But if you are required to pay taxes, then pay them, and not because you are obligated to, but because you must not oppose evil. If not, then opposing evil will produce even greater evil.'" - Leo Tolstoy, The Gospel In Brief, pg. 114

Unprofitable servants

"If people think they can be all-powerful masters of life, that life is given to them for the lust of the flesh, then it is obvious that every act of sacrifice for another will seem to them a deed worthy of a reward and without reward they will not do anything. . . . One must understand that man can do nothing on his own and that if he gives away his mortal life for the good, then there should be no thanks or reward expected." - Leo Tolstoy, The Gospel in Brief, pg. 96