What Does God Want?

“Well then,” he said, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.” [Luke 20.25]

How about that, "...give to Caesar..." statement?

How do we make a proper contemporary application of this statement? What is it that we are to "give to Ceasar"? Money? And if money goes to Ceasar, what is it we give to God?

How about this... If we make an offering of money to God, AND we give money to Ceasar (the government) as well, is that defiling to God?

I think there is much more to what Jesus answered His critics here than meets the eye. Perhaps we should give this some deep thought...

I know money is important to us. Very important. But how important is money to God? Really. I've heard much ado regarding what people give to God financially and how their financial commitment to God depicts true devotion to God... Is that true? Can devotion to God be measured with money?

A couple days ago, in the NT reading in Luke, Jesus told a rich guy to sell out and follow Him... why? I think the careful reader will realize that the rich guy's devotion was to his money - not to God. I don't think Jesus needed the guy's money (as a matter of fact, Jesus said give it to the poor).

Devotion to God is a true heart matter. It is not about money. Yes, money can expose a much deeper problem, but money is not the problem in and of itself.

Back to today's reading, I believe we need to focus on giving to God what belongs to God. What belongs to God? Be careful before making a blanket, "everything" answer here because obviously Jesus made a distinction between money and whatever it is that belongs to God...

What belongs to God? I shall spend my day pondering this because whatever it is, I want to be sure to comply!

It would be prudent at this point to keep in mind the things that made Jesus emotional - perhaps that is some insight into what it is that God wants. Jesus wept over faithlessness and... well faithlessness. He cried over the faithlessness of Lazarus circumstances and He cried over the faithlessness of Jerusalem. It could be deduced that faith is what God wants! Likewise, Jesus got angry about the whole money thing in the Temple... Hmmm...

Father, I am not just a little intrigued by Jesus' statement today regarding money and "what belongs to You." Help me to grasp what it is You want and give it freely!