Give to God what belongs to God

Jesus said, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.”  (Matthew 22:21)

Jesus' famous statement was in response to a question - a question religious leaders were using to trap him.  Was it right to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?  If Jesus said "yes", he'd alienate many (most?) of his followers.  If he said "no" then Rome had grounds to arrest him.


Instead, Jesus - as quick as ever - asked for a coin.  Then he asked a question. Whose image was on the coin?  Caesar's they replied.  And Jesus said, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.”  We are reminded that material things are ultimately futile.  But the idea of "image" goes way beyond coins!


If a coin bears Caesar's image, what bears God's image?  The answer is of course you and me.  Way back in Genesis 1 the Bible tells us God made us in His image.  Unlike a coin which is manufactured uniformly, we are diverse beings.  Yet all of us are made in the image of God.


So, we should all give to God what is God's.  As one worship song says, "so I'll stand with arms high and heart abandoned, in awe of the one who gave it all.  I'll stand, my soul Lord to you surrendered, all I am is yours".  Amen!


Image: Google Images