Give God What Is His (November 14, 2021)

Matthew 22:15-21  Then the Pharisees went and plotted to entrap him in what he said.  (16)  So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality.  (17)  Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?"  (18)  But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, "Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites?  (19)  Show me the coin used for the tax." And they brought him a denarius.  (20)  Then he said to them, "Whose head is this, and whose title?"  (21)  They answered, "The emperor's." Then he said to them, "Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor's, and to God the things that are God's." (NRSV).

GIVE GOD WHAT IS HIS

Text: Matthew 22:15 -21

Someone has said, “Flattery is like perfume. The idea is to smell it, not swallow it.” Another suggested, “Flattery is like counterfeit money which, but for vanity, would have no circulation.” Most of us would rather be hurt by flattery than helped by criticism. It could be said, “Flattery is not communication; it is manipulation.” https://www.family-times.net/illustration/Flattery/200949/ [original source: (Source Unknown, Lou Nicholes - Missionary/Author)]. The Pharisees were trying to trick Jesus. Notice how they used “flattery” hoping to “manipulate” Jesus. Even, “Leave it to Beaver” character Eddie Haskel would have been proud of their technique.

They tried to trap Jesus but ended up being trapped themselves. Jesus saw right through their scheme and plainly called them what they were---“hypocrites” which incidentally is the Greek word which means “actor”.

We have to love Jesus’s answer: (20) ….“Whose head [image KJV] is this, and whose title?"  (21) Render therefore unto Caesar the things that are Caesar`s; and unto God the things that are God`s” (Matthew 22:21). Since we are made in God’s image (Genesis 1:26,27) all of who we are belongs to God! How well and how often do we take that timeless advice---giving to God what belongs to Him?

How is our devotion to God ? Is it where it ought to be?

THRIFTY DEVOTION

How is it is possible to have a devotion to God that falls short?

1) Bargains in devotion: Jesus sees our potential to become the disciples that He is calling us all to be. There are times when we might approach our spiritual lives the same way we do our bargain shopping. Although the notion of thrifty devotion is not mentioned directly in this passage of scripture, it seems to be implied.

2) Complete devotion: Anything that is not whole-hearted devotion is nothing more than mediocre at best. God calls us to love Him with all of our hearts, souls, minds and strength and to love our neighbors as we love ourselves (Luke 10:27). Since we are made in God’s image, we must completely give ourselves to God!

Are there are times when our bargain shopping echoes our devotion in our spiritual lives? Who does not like to buy nice things at nice prices?

1) Extremes: There are two extremes of how we spend money. (1) We either stockpile it (hoarding) because we are thrifty. (2) Or, perhaps we might be extravagant because we might be a little careless in spending more than we should have. “In 1626, Peter Minuit, the director-general of Dutch West India Company's settlement in North America, made what he thought was a very good deal. He bought Manhattan Island from native Indian chiefs for $24. Unfortunately for him, company headquarters didn't think it was such a bargain and charged him a fine for his "extravagance." Mr. Minuit's extravagance would not purchase a square inch of Manhattan Island today. What we see as extravagant today may someday be seen as cheap”. (Raymond McHenry. ed. McHenry’s Quips, Quotes And Other Notes. [quoted from: The Timetables of History, Bernard Grun, 1975, p. 283; Houston Post, Nov. 11, 1992, p. 2]. Third Printing. Peabody: Hendrickson Publishers, 2004, pp. 294- 295).

2) Priceless: Does God think of us as cheap? Of course not! God does not think of us as cheap, because Jesus bought us with a price! Just as God does not think we are cheap, God does not want us be thrifty in our potential for serving Him. We are made in His image.

Do we want a salvation army store where we can get what we want from God? There are no salvation army store or clearance rack solutions concerning what we want and what we need that only God can provide---His grace! God’s grace is not cheap! God’s grace is not something that we can buy or it would not be grace. God’s grace is a gift that makes us right with God! God’s grace is free to us but it was extremely costly to Jesus Christ who paid the price that we could not have paid.