Tax Time
Well, it is tax week. So let’s talk about Mark 12:17. That has the famous line: Render (give) to Caesar what is Caesar and to God what is God’s.
When the Pharisees were talking to Jesus it was a trap.
If Jesus had said “don’t pay taxes” he would have been an enemy of the state. A Zealot
If Jesus had said “pay your taxes” He would have been a Roman sympathizer. A Traitor
Instead, Jesus takes their question and elevates it. He asks for a coin…a sign of authority…and asks where that authority comes from. What do I mean by authority? Open your wallet. What is the difference between a One Dollar Bill, Five Dollar Bill, and Ten Dollar Bill? Same material, same ink, same distribution network. All legal currency. But some are worth more than others. Why? Because the Federal Reserve has the ability to declare the value of the currency. They put their image, their authority upon it.
So whose image is on the coin? Caesar
Whose image is upon you? God’s
Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” – Genesis 1:26
This week we give to the government what is the governments. Every day we should give to God what is God’s. We give God dominion of our body and soul. We say Thy Will Be Done. We acknowledge that all we have He has given us. In Romans 13 Paul extends that blessing to even the rulers and government over us.
So what should we do. Give God His due as our creator, redeemer and sanctifier. Give him all of who we are.
So take a minute and join me in the Doxology:
Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow
Praise Him, all creatures here below
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
Amen, amen, amen, amen