Here is some Navel Gazing that might raise some hackels. That is because it is of a religious nature. I am discussing Jesus of Nazereth who was born of the Virgin Mary, was crucified for our sins, rose again on the third day and ascended to heaven.
I am not trying to start a new belief here or anything like that. I'm just Navel Gazing. This occurred to me once when I was thinking about the stories presented in Matthew 22:19-22, Mark 12:15-17, and Luke 20:22-26. The gist of the story is this.
The Jewish religious leaders of the day came to Jesus and asked if it was lawful for them to give tribute to Caeser. He could tell they were trying to trick him so he asked to see a coin.
“Whose name and image is on the coin?”, he asked.
They told him it was Ceaser's.
So, then he said, “Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things which be God's.”
The religious leaders seemed to be pretty impressed with this.
Why were they so impressed? What is Jesus really saying? Because taken at face value (pun intended), this statement doesn't seem all that impressive. So, as I analyzed the statement I asked what it was that was God's which we were supposed to render to Him. I have heard many times that this is referring to tithing. In other words, Jesus was saying that we should pay our taxes and we should pay our tithes.
But I don't think he was saying that at all. Jesus asked whose name and image was on the coin. Somehow, this indicated the owner of the coin. When they told him Ceaser's name and image was on it, I believe he was saying something along these lines. Because Caesar's name and image are on this coin, it belongs to him. He is asking for it back and you should give it to him. However, you should also render unto God those things which have his name and image inscribed upon them.
What is it that has God's name and image on it?
Well, that's been hammered into us since we were children. Genesis 1:27 and Colossians 3:10 say that God created man in His image. It is very clear, saying it twice, two different ways so that it would be obvious to us that man was created in God's image. Also, Revelation 3:12 says that the name of God will be written on the overcomers. It further goes on to say that the name of God's City will be written upon the overcomer. When you look at money, what's on it? It is a person's image and the name of the country where it was coined.
God's currency is man. Jesus seems to be saying that we are to render ourselves to God. Giving God His due, means giving ourselves, our lives, our thoughts, and our living to God.
Further evidence of that God's currency is man can be found in Luke 21:1-4 and Mark 12:41-44. This is the point in the life of Jesus that he is watching the people bring their gifts to the temple. The wealthy were bringing large gifts and a widow brought two mites. He tells his disciples that she gave more than them all because they gave out of their abundance and she gave out of her need. Furthermore, she gave her entire living.
I have heard it said so many times that she gave more because God looks at percentages, not amounts. When in fact, the Bible says that God looks at the heart (I Samuel 16:7), not anything that can be measured outwardly. Percentages can be measured outwardly. Amounts can be measured outwardly. The widow gave her life. She gave because she loved God and believed that her life was His and that He would provide for her. The Bible doesn't say all that. But I believe that's why she gave. I believe that's why Jesus said what he did.
Tithing and giving is how God blesses us. It is seed for further blessing. But it is not as important to God as we are led to believe. What is important to God is that upon which He has put His image. It is you He wants. He wants you more than your money.