Mine! Mine! Mine!…
Luke 20:24 “Show Me a denarius. Whose likeness and inscription does it have?” They said, “Caesar’s.”
The same could be said of our heart. Whose likeness and inscription does it have?
Luke 20:25 And He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
Does God own your heart? Yes, no doubt He SHOULD! But does He?
One of the ways we can tell is by asking WHO GETS TO DECIDE how to “spend it”. Who is in charge of your heart budget? Do you tell God whom you like and/or dislike? Do you tell Him who He should bless and/or curse because of YOUR ownership?
We are so spoiled in this country because we have been reared in a democracy – rule of/by/for the people. The temptation of course, is to assume ownership… one nation under me. We may not declare this boldly but by our actions, turning our back on anyone or anything that confronts this premise, we surely declare, “My way or the highway!”
Who is in charge of your heart budget?
And who do you deem are the servants slaves to it’s “denarius”? WHAT?????
How dare I reveal our dirty little secret… our heart is the IRS of the body!
We collect taxes on the favors we have done… i.e. “You owe me”.
We “give” our favor as we determine need… i.e. “Profit to my bottom line”.
The balance of our budget is determined by good vs bad feelings in each line item viewed and judged by our heart.
We fully expect, whether we say it or not, that ALL must bow to our need, pay homage to our desires, and render payment based upon our judgements.
Now it was only CERTAIN people who were trying to trick Jesus that started this discussion… “Teacher, (person who is learned) we know that You speak and teach correctly, (just like us – the scribes and chief priests) and You are not partial to any, but teach the way of God in truth.” (distract with flattery)… “Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” (not that WE have any intention of changing our ways).
That isn’t us… WE are not trying to “trick” Jesus!
Maybe?
Probably not…
Maybe just trying to make Him a little like us…
Maybe just trying to flatter convince Him with praise…
Maybe just asking…
“What He would have us do”,so we then can analyze/rationalize/sanitize and then… give to ourselves the things that are ours, (well… THEY DO BEAR MY IMAGE!) and KNOW FOR SURE what I CAN give to God.
The thing I find myself shaking my head over is; in my analyzing/rationalizing/sanitizing… I can FEEL totally righteous and be totally shocked when God does not accept my leftovers!
What’s even funnier to me is those who would declare that God has NO RIGHTS because He doesn’t “really” exist; yet demand that HE fix evil. He should not/cannot be a part of our government, our schools, our public spaces but He bears all blame for every action taken in those places… excuse me… every BAD action taken. The people we like get the praise for the good things.
Insanity!
People! We… me and you… have to decide WHAT IS God’s and then… GIVE IT to Him!
If everything is mine mine mine… then what is left over for God?
If I am created in His image and yet it is MY IMAGE that my heart bears… then what IS left to give to God?
What is it that God wants?
Is He my servant (obligated to please me)?
Or am I His?
It is my heart… have I given it ALL to Him? If I have, it will never again be budgeted by things… by ownership… by me. It is God who is at work, both to will and to work for His good pleasure…
Jesus prays… John 17:20-24 “I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me. Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.
God says… MINE! MNE! MINE!
And His budget is LOVE… UNCONDITIONAL LOVE!
That’s the image I want on the denarius of my heart! Then I will be able to render to God what is His.
**All Scripture quoted comes from the “Bible Gateway” app and is the NASB version of the Bible