Choices
This past Monday was Tax Day, April 15th. Ugh! Talk about a mad scramble. Did you file your tax return? Although we filed an extension, we still had to prepare most of the return and pay our taxes anyway. While I don't like tax time (who does?), it is the one time during the year I stop and assess where my money is and, more importantly, where did it go? In this way, it's a good time to assess my priorities and whether my finances reflect what's truly important.
The issue of paying taxes comes up several times in the Bible. One of those times is in Luke 20 when the religious leaders were trying to trap Jesus. Jesus' ministry was marked by repentance before God, and love for the poor, the sick, and the sinner. By contrast, the religious leaders of the time were characterized by their pride, hypocrisy, and self-righteousness; and Jesus regularly called them out on it. Because of that, they were looking for a reason to have Him arrested. In verses 20-22, it says "Keeping a close watch on him, they sent spies, who pretended to be sincere. They hoped to catch Jesus in something he said, so that they might hand him over to the power and authority of the governor. So the spies questioned him: 'Teacher, we know that you speak and teach . . . the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right for us to pay TAXES to Caesar or not?'" These teachers of the law and religious leaders were trying to put Jesus between a rock and a hard place. Because they knew His allegiance was to God, they were trying to get Him in trouble with the Roman government. Then in verses 23-25, it says "He saw through their duplicity and said to them, 'Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?' 'Caesar’s,' they replied. He said to them, 'Then give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.'”
Although paying taxes was as unpopular then as it is now, Jesus made clear that it is something God required of them. Romans 13:1-7 says that we are to submit to the authority of the government in this way. However, in his response to those trying to trick Him, Jesus brilliantly outlines an even higher calling: to give or render to God what is God's. As Christians, we believe that everything we have ultimately belongs to God. We are only stewards of His, called to use our money and resources wisely, with an eternal perspective. Paying taxes is our duty as citizens of the state. But as Christians, we are ultimately citizens of heaven. Our allegiance is to God! While paying taxes is not fun (there's an understatement), let us take the opportunity to assess what's truly important and prioritize the things of God in our lives. Render to Caesar what is Caesar's and render to God what is God's.
God bless,
Pastor Darren
