Fair Price

And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute?

25 He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?

26 Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.

27 Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.

Matthew 17:24-27

Here we see a simple fact that when you bring a good or service it comes along with money. A service would be fishing much like tax collectors served their king. A good on the other hand would be what comes of it. See, tax collectors haven't any wares unless they're in people. This means the tax collectors have nothing to offer. The fisherman though has their wares, or things to sell, in fish. Thus, it's a good. Now the fish must come with a set or a fair price in that society else it's an ill. That is why Jesus told Peter to go pull up a fish and pay taxes with it based on whatever money it fetched in its' mouth. What do you think?

Then again, tell me what would happen if I overcharged people thereby burdening society? Those people are strangers to me, but they might just as well be family. With that in mind, how would things change? Then what would happen if the government also started overcharging its' own people whom it swore to protect? What should be done to such a society then that has no basis on merit or price? Finally, what would society look like if it was based simply on policies of you and me just as Jesus had said? I'll tell you what would soon occur. Work as we know it would cease. People soon would revert back to doing as they wished with their time as in the days of old. Hunting, farming, or even work would become simply a task then either for pleasure or profit and not based on sheer necessity.