So some lawyers were trying to outwit Jesus, sort of like a four year old trying to outsmart Einstein, and they asked him if Jews should pay taxes to Rome. Whether he said "yes" or "no" they were planning on ratting him out to the Jews or Romans whichever was more convenient. And as usual Jesus not only sent them away in awe, but gave us a framework for successful living.
He said "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and give to God what is God's."
For years I took that at surface level as to mean "don't cheat on your taxes," and as usual I missed the big picture.
The thrust was never about paying taxes, but about figuring out what part of my life belongs to God and giving it to him.
Think it through. God made everything, he knit me together. As far as the body he put me in, mine's rather pedestrian compared to most, but it's still a spectacular, amazing recipe of incredible diverse and interrelated systems.
My body belongs to God. What artist would ever spend time creating something and then expect he didn't own it.
My body belongs to God. What artist would ever spend time creating something and then expect he didn't own it.
What keeps me alive? Air, water, food, heat, etc,. and the extraordinarily complex systems which allow this body to adapt and use these for life. I didn't create or invent any of these. I did nothing to earn these. I don't even deserve these. Really, by what right, law, or logic do I claim these as mine?
God gave me some abilities that allow me to earn money and buy a home and a car. While I might have practiced and refined those abilities, they were initially from God and he gave me the ability to refine them. By what line of reasoning do I possess those as mine?
So while I claim to own this car or that home or this body, do I?
The point: Regardless of what this culture determines I own or do not, it's all God's. Give to God what it is God's. What is God's? Everything.
Every bit of this body. Every bit of this soul. Every second I live, Every penny, every item. It's God's. Give to God what is God's. Why do I believe even for a moment they're mine?
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