Mark 12:13-17
13 And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and some of the Herodians, to trap him in his talk. 14 And they came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are true and do not care about anyone's opinion. For you are not swayed by appearances, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?” 15 But, knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why put me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” 16 And they brought one. And he said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said to him, “Caesar's.” 17 Jesus 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.
Do you ever wish you could ask Jesus, "Why?" Why did you have to explain it like that? Why couldn't you make things easier? Could we have multiple choice? Unfortunately, Jesus gives no formula for a fair tax. He simply tells his questioners opponents, and trapsters to give to Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God's.
That is not enough explanation. That isn't even possible in our current state. We base everything on money. Dollars and cents do the talking. Jesus, how can we have any power or say when we give all of our wealth to the government? Shouldn't we be giving to the church as well?
I know the politically charged climate which we exist in as Americans, but Jesus isn't making the issue about money or government. The Pharisees are. Jesus is calling them out on their vision for the world. For while they want to create discord and reduce Jesus to saying something that gets him and his followers in trouble, Jesus calls them on their arrogance and says simply, "It's not about the money, the taxes, or the wealth. It is about the relationship that you have with God and with neighbor."
In our world full of tension and turmoil, the Christian is one who looks past the green and silver, past the presidents and leaders, past the money that jingles and the money that folds. The Christian is one who sees people and their need and goes to serve God where God leads. That is what it means to give to God the things that are God's. We are the God's creation, let us give ourselves over to God.
Prayer: Take my will and God, and use it for thy good in this world, so that we may not simply transform, but be transformed. Through the grace of your son Jesus Christ we pray, Amen.
G. Thomas Martin
