(Matthew 22) Sometimes we get mixed up giving God offerings He does not ask for and giving the things He does require to others. The Pharisees were trying to get Jesus to say something that would cause him to be arrested but Jesus knew their hearts. Then they asked him if it was right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? By the way these series of questions sounds much like the devil's attempt to cause Jesus to stumble in the wilderness (Matthew chapter 4) and so we get insight into where these questions are coming from. Jesus met their challenge by turning their question into a teaching moment. He pointed out that the coin had Caesar's image and name stamped on it and therefore belonged to Caesar but he also mentioned that they should give to God what belongs to God. As Christians do we not have God's image stamped on our hearts? Is His name not our name, for we call ourselves Christians. Too often we give God things that do not cost us much, sometimes that's our money. If we give out of our abundance what have we given? Jesus said the poor widow that gave two small coins (all she had) gave more than all the others (Mark 12:43). Sometimes going to church is more a symbol of goodwill than an act of worship and the list goes on. These are things we all have to be aware of because the devil will try to trap us as well, making us believe we are doing enough but all along keeping us from having life-changing relationship with our Savior.
Lord, help us to know your better and when we feel that tug on our hearts to follow your leading give us strength to do it. In Jesus name I pray, amen.
