“Then they sent to Him some of the Pharisees and the Herodians, to catch Him in His words. When they had come, they said to Him, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and care about no one; for You do not regard the person of men, but teach the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Shall we pay, or shall we not pay?” But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, “Why do you test Me? Bring Me a denarius that I may see it.” So they brought it. And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” And Jesus answered and said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they marveled at Him.”
Mark 12:13-17 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/mrk.12.13-17.NKJV
When I worked with the government, I was both amazed and disgusted how they wasted money. I remember being told by a major government official, “What’s a billion here and a billion there?” After all, it’s just numbers. The disconnect we have is we worked hard to accumulate those numbers! Therefore, those numbers mean something to us.
The fact is those numbers really do belong to the government. They printed it, they created the system of measurement and they distribute it. In essence, because those numbers belong to them, everything derived by those numbers also belongs to them.
With Christ, this fact becomes clear. I am running around so I can collect numbers created by the government and I see this exercise of value? I want more numbers that I truly do not own? Really, they own it all because it’s their numbers being used to accumulate. Conversely, if I died today would the stuff I accumulated number generation really matter to me anymore? There is no U-Haul attached to the Hearst.
Oh, but what’s God’s is God’s? I am now His. He owns me. In return, He cares for me. What is most important to you and do your daily actions match your beliefs? Now, my eyes are opened to what’s really of value!
““Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Matthew 6:19-21 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/mat.6.19-21.NKJV
by Kent Brosh a Kawaiaha’o Blog Contributor
Alberta, Canada
