Render Unto Caesar

Recently, the US, and even the world economy has started to cause chaos as many people are being impacted by plummeting portfolios, property values, and lost jobs. I have watched my home value drop well below what I owe, my 401k reduce, and face getting laid off in the coming months.

Thankfully, as with most things in life, we find provisions in the bible. A particular verse of scripture has recently surfaced in my mind, and with it, new meaning:

Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk. And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men. Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?"
But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, "Why do you test Me, you hypocrites? Show Me the tax money."
So they brought Him a denarius. And He said to them, "Whose image and inscription is this?"
They said to Him, "Caesar's."
And He said to them, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left Him and went their way. ( Matthew 22:15-22 )

Those familiar with this story know that the Pharisees were trying to trap Jesus by making him choose option A or option B, both wrong answers. As Jesus often did, he chose the righteous option C instead. We learn that we are subject to both the laws of God and the laws of our land.

The way Jesus makes His point, however, I find particularly interesting. He asks them, "Whose image and inscription" are on the coin? He then instructs them to give to Caesar what belongs to him. On first look, we might assume that it is the taxes that belong to Caesar, but I believe that it is the coin and money itself.

We often like to think that our money belongs to us, but is that really true? We have to pay taxes with it. Its value fluctuates up and down, out of our control. We are assessed fees and interest. We are forced to pay for essentials like food, water, clothing, and shelter. Our portfolios are at the mercy of the market. Our valuables are at the mercy of thieves. All are at the mercy of our own economy.

In Matthew 6:19-21 we are told:

"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.

We can claim ownership to all the material wealth we wish, but it is ultimately someone else's property and will not last. The money we are losing today was never ours to start with. Our treasures are in heaven. Our treasures are our good deeds and love we have for others, as well as the mercy and grace we receive daily from our Lord.

We may think that our money is what brings us food, clothing, and shelter. If we lose our money, we are unable to provide for our family. When we look a little further, we realize that God is the provider of all good things.

In Luke 12:24 Jesus says, "Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds?" He goes on to tell us:

"And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you. ( Luke 12:29-31 )

In the end, the money we worry about is not ours. The only sure thing is that it will be gone sooner or later. We are not to let this disturb us, however, because it is not money that provides for us, but God Himself.

In closing, I offer the best financial advise ever known to man. In fact, it is our ultimate answer. When asked the most important thing we can do, Jesus responded by telling us, "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind," and "your neighbor as yourself." ( Luke 10:27 )