“They came to him and said, “Teacher, we know that you are a man of integrity. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not? Should we pay or shouldn’t we?” But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. “Why are you trying to trap me?” he asked. “Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” They brought the coin, and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. Then Jesus said to them, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” And they were amazed at him. Mark 12:14-17
“Gold is Caesar’s treasure, man is God’s. Thy gold hath Caesar’s image, and thou hast God’s. Give therefore those things unto Caesar which are Caesar’s, and unto God which are God’s.”
Francis Quarles (1592-1644) English poet in Day’s Collacon, comp. and arr. by Edward Parsons Day (New York: IPPO, 1884) 330.
This week Jenni and I visited our accountant and learned that we had underestimated our quarterly tax payments. That’s right, we have the privilege of paying additional taxes.
At first we were frustrated about this. Alright, I don’t know that all the frustration has diminished, but here’s what I think our Lord Jesus Christ and writers like Francis Quarles are reminding us this tax season: three things.
First, let’s maintain our integrity (cf. Proverbs 11:3).
Second, let’s pay our taxes to the authorities who have been put into their positions by God (cf. Romans 13:1).
Third, let’s give ourselves and resources to God so that just as we are made in His image, we will reflect His love and generosity to the world through our living, giving, serving, and loving.
Why do this? We are God’s treasures!