Printer Friendly VersionShakespeare’s, “To be or not to be, that is the question,”
is a good one, but it’s not the one we’ll be dealing with today.
In fact, in this series we’ve been dealing with another good question,
“Is the Religious Community Communicating the Right Answers?” (read
the gospel lesson)
“You teach about the way of God regardless of the consequences. You are impartial and don't play favorites” (Matt. 22:17). This verse speaks directly to the title of this second series. It is the role of the religious community to teach the way of God regardless of the consequences. If that is true then, what would be the "way of God" concerning us today?
At least for today…”Give to Caesar what belongs to him. But everything
that belongs to God must be given to God" (Matt. 22:22).
God does not want, nor should the religious community be communicating that
he wants, our "taxes" or that which belongs to this world. That
is not the question!
Now as Christians we are called to live according to the "laws of the
land" as long as they are in keeping with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
For us this is not the issue of life. The greater question in keeping with
the gospel lesson is, “Are we giving to God everything that belongs to
God?” And if so, what are those things?
Well, after reading today's epistle lesson, I wondered if "those things"
that God wants were found in Paul's words, "your faithful work, your
loving deeds, and your continual anticipation of the return of our Lord Jesus
Christ” (1 Thess. 1:3). Of course, but before one can give their faithful
work or loving deeds there is, dare I say, a greater gift to give to God that
is depicted in our Old Testament lesson.
Exodus 33 seems to communicate that the one thing God wants from us is for
us to trust in him. Moses said to the Lord, "You have been telling me,
'Take these people up to the Promised Land.' But you haven't told me whom
you will send with me. You call me by name and tell me I have found favor
with you. Please, if this is really so, show me your intentions so I will
understand you more fully and do exactly what you want me to do. Besides,
don't forget that this nation is your very own people" (Ex. 33:13). Talk
about putting God to the test!
I admit Moses had a lot to lose. I mean he really put himself out on a limb,
freeing God's people from the Egyptians. All that God ever wanted from him
was to trust Him. Not taxes - trust! When he did the Lord replied, "I
will personally go with you, Moses. I will give you rest--everything will
be fine for you" (Ex. 33:14).
Is this kind of trust true for you?
Today, I want to challenge you to not place your trust, your sense of security
in the federal government believing that today’s taxes are tomorrow’s
retirement, instead I’m asking you to abandon “Caesar’s”
false sense of security and place your trust in the one who is greater than
Caesar, Jesus Christ. Amen.
