Give to Caesar’s what is Caesar’s and give to G-d what is G-d’s…

How many of you are homeowners? Property and school taxes!

Or drive a car? Gasoline tax!

Or work a job? Income taxes!!

Or buy most items for living. Yep again sales tax!

I was driving through my neighborhood and realized just how much our one community pays in house property taxes and it got me thinking.

We sure give a lot to our Caesar. Don’t we? And while I am not opposed to pay taxes as what is right and fair – I wonder how much we pay in our lifetime and what do we really have to show for it. Of course we can’t say nothing. Schools, roads, police, etc. – and while the are good investments it just does not have the same personal ROI.

Yet the latter portion of what Yeshua said is the more important point and remember that what He says as “last” in quite a bit of not all messages is that the last shall be first and I think this sentiment plays well into this discussion.

He is talking about giving to G-d first (by stating last) and that what really matters is what we give to G-d. In fact I will go out on a limb and state it is the only real thing that has the best personal rate-of-return.

I believe that we will lay crowns at His feet (homework: figure out what the different types of crowns will be) and I think He will be so delighted to smile at us and that, by golly, will be one amazing smile and we will be the recipient of His smile and love.

How awesome!!

So while we are temporarily laying our money here for the tax collectors – let’s look forward to the day we really surrender something of more utmost value to our Heavenly Father.

So while we can have treasures here on earth and we have only have what He gives us – the real treasure are these crowns we are storing up for Him in Heaven.

The more we have – the more we give.

And it will be an awesome feeling to be able to lay them at His feet.

Are you ready to store up theses treasures?

Speaking of a similar form of storing up a treasure – think of Mary pondering in her heart about her upcoming birth of our Messiah.

These treasures are so much worth than a nickel or a dime.

And Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they were amazed at Him. Mark 12:17 (NASB95)