Lenten Devotions - Day 16
“Then Jesus told them, ‘Give the Emperor what belongs to him and give God what belongs to God.’ The men were amazed at Jesus.” Mark 12:17
It was the perfect trick question for trapping Jesus, or so they thought. No one likes to pay taxes. No one like the idea of taxes being raised—at least not when it means they will be the ones paying. After all, we are all at least a little bit selfish. We begrudge taxes at any rate of pay. We begrudge fines we incur through our own folly or through willful decisions to break laws or failure to meet obligations. My rights, my money, and my will always seem to come before any obligation to another.
So they asked Jesus whether or not to pay taxes to Cesar, the emperor who demanded tribute as though he and the gods of Rome were more important than the only true God. Doctrine was on their side. This tax was considered tribute. Tribute was an act of homage and worship. It was the declaration of the rights of the gods of Rome who had gained victory over Israel, vanquishing Yahweh in the eyes of the world. The Jews served only one God—the only God. Tribute should never be given to another, since it was an act of worship. Only Yahweh was worthy of that! It was the first of the commandments.
Not only were taxes unpopular and the tribute contrary to Yahweh's commandments, if Jesus said not to pay them, he would be guilty of treason toward Rome and summarily executed. What they had not counted on was that Jesus was not as selfish as the rest of his generation. He was not so concerned with amassing wealth and believing that coins provided for one's needs. Rather, he trusted that it was God who provides for our welfare.
He had them show him the coin for the tribute. When they showed him the coin, he asked them about the image engraved on it. They responded that it was Cesar's. Jesus reminded them that it was unlawful for them to make or possess any graven image. They should then return to Cesar what came from Cesar. They should also give to God what belongs to or originated with God.
That doesn't leave us much, does it? Once we return to our government all that we receive from our governors and return to God all that comes from God, there is not much left. Selfish hoarding is simply not a divine right. While it may be our natural desire, it is not God's plan for our lives. The Jews talked about being the people of Yahweh, but living the reality of that claim is far more than stating a fact. It means living our lives in recognition that we are not our own, but belong heart and soul and talents and breath to God.
Are we any less guilty than those of Jesus' day for coveting what does not really belong to us, and robbing God through our unfaithfulness? Whom do we really fool when we are not faithful in the stewardship of our time, talents, and resources? If it comes from and belongs to God, are we less than thieves if we claim it as our own?
All we have is a gift from God—life, breath, health, time, and talents. Determine what you may have been keeping from God. Decide how you will return to God those things you have been withholding.
“Lord, help me to let go of my selfishness and recall that life with all its blessings is a loan from you. Make me faithful in my stewardship.”
—©Copyright 2009 Christopher B. Harbin http://www.sermonsearch.com/contributors/104427/
It was the perfect trick question for trapping Jesus, or so they thought. No one likes to pay taxes. No one like the idea of taxes being raised—at least not when it means they will be the ones paying. After all, we are all at least a little bit selfish. We begrudge taxes at any rate of pay. We begrudge fines we incur through our own folly or through willful decisions to break laws or failure to meet obligations. My rights, my money, and my will always seem to come before any obligation to another.
So they asked Jesus whether or not to pay taxes to Cesar, the emperor who demanded tribute as though he and the gods of Rome were more important than the only true God. Doctrine was on their side. This tax was considered tribute. Tribute was an act of homage and worship. It was the declaration of the rights of the gods of Rome who had gained victory over Israel, vanquishing Yahweh in the eyes of the world. The Jews served only one God—the only God. Tribute should never be given to another, since it was an act of worship. Only Yahweh was worthy of that! It was the first of the commandments.
Not only were taxes unpopular and the tribute contrary to Yahweh's commandments, if Jesus said not to pay them, he would be guilty of treason toward Rome and summarily executed. What they had not counted on was that Jesus was not as selfish as the rest of his generation. He was not so concerned with amassing wealth and believing that coins provided for one's needs. Rather, he trusted that it was God who provides for our welfare.
He had them show him the coin for the tribute. When they showed him the coin, he asked them about the image engraved on it. They responded that it was Cesar's. Jesus reminded them that it was unlawful for them to make or possess any graven image. They should then return to Cesar what came from Cesar. They should also give to God what belongs to or originated with God.
That doesn't leave us much, does it? Once we return to our government all that we receive from our governors and return to God all that comes from God, there is not much left. Selfish hoarding is simply not a divine right. While it may be our natural desire, it is not God's plan for our lives. The Jews talked about being the people of Yahweh, but living the reality of that claim is far more than stating a fact. It means living our lives in recognition that we are not our own, but belong heart and soul and talents and breath to God.
Are we any less guilty than those of Jesus' day for coveting what does not really belong to us, and robbing God through our unfaithfulness? Whom do we really fool when we are not faithful in the stewardship of our time, talents, and resources? If it comes from and belongs to God, are we less than thieves if we claim it as our own?
All we have is a gift from God—life, breath, health, time, and talents. Determine what you may have been keeping from God. Decide how you will return to God those things you have been withholding.
“Lord, help me to let go of my selfishness and recall that life with all its blessings is a loan from you. Make me faithful in my stewardship.”
—©Copyright 2009 Christopher B. Harbin http://www.sermonsearch.com/contributors/104427/
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