¹⁹ Here, show me the coin used for the tax.” When they handed him a Roman coin, ²⁰ he asked, “Whose picture and title are stamped on it?”

²¹ “Caesar’s,” they replied.

“Well, then,” he said, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.”

Matthew 22:19-21

Dear God, I want to zoom in on the last seven words of this passage this morning: “…give to God what belongs to God.” We normally focus on the part about giving to Caesar what is Caesar’s because it’s Jesus being a bit sassy and condescending to the Pharisees, but what of mine is yours?

Of course the answer is, “All of it,” but that’s too easy. What is Jesus calling me to give to you/him/your Holy Spirit?

• Time: This is the first thing that came to mind. If I’m not talking about my money, then I’m talking about my time, right? And that’s true. I do need to be willing to give a portion of my time to you. Or should it be all of my time? Is there any of the time that is okay to reserve for myself? Is 10% of my time enough? Should it be 30%? Should it be half? If I’m honest, even though I volunteer at a lot of things and I spend time in prayer to you, the idea of even dedicating 10% of my time to you would seem daunting. If you count all day, then that would be 2.4 hours per day. If you count my waking hours, that would be 1.7 hours per day. Do I spend an hour and forty-five minutes each day dedicated to you in some way? Either praying, serving, or learning about you? Depending on the day, there are some that hit that number, but it’s not consistent. And I don’t think it adds up to 12 hours per week.
• Money: I know Uncle Sam gets his part in my taxes, and, honestly, I’m glad to pay them. I remember about 30 years ago when my wife and I added up our taxes, and I told her, “You know, if that’s what we have to pay for the right and ability to live in this country then I’m happy to pay it.” But what about your part of my money? Actually, I feel pretty good about this one. We are willing to give of our money–both informally to individuals in need as well as formally to the church and parachurch organizations. I’m going to go on to the next.
• Talent: This is different than time. It’s using the gifts you’ve given me to help others. I don’t want to enumerate those gifts here because it can be read publicly, and I don’t want to slip into vanity (which is a great temptation for me). But there are some things that I am good at. And I take some opportunities to use them, but I also let a lot of opportunities pass me by. Help me to be more mindful and willing to pursue the opportunities you have for me to serve your Kingdom.
• Worship and Discipleship: This kind of falls into time, but it’s more specific. I have so much worship to give. I can give it to idols or I can give it to you. I can also try to split it, but as soon as I do that I’ve given it to the idol and left you. No man can have two masters (Matthew 6:24). So I am sure I owe you more focus than I’ve given. In fact, I think part of your recent call to me to engage in more times of silence is you pointing that out to me.
• My marriage: I’m incredibly grateful for this marriage. Help my mindset to be more about doing what it takes to take care of your daughter as your son-in-law and less and less about what’s in it for me. If my focus on this marriage is taking what I can get out of it, then I am not giving to you what is yours. She is yours, and I need to give her to you and release her from myself as much as possible.
• My children: Much like my marriage, my entire focus needs to be on them, their joy, their peace, their love, and then healing any of the wounds they have. To be about offering their paths to you instead of trying to get anything for myself out of them.
• My work: Now, I’m starting to get on a role. I didn’t think I’d start coming up with things this easily, but of course my work would be part of what I have. I’ve been unemployed two different times in my life, and it occurred to me how amazing it can be to have someone be willing to pay you money in exchange for your time and effort. And then there are the relationships I have with my coworkers. Am I representing you? Am I blessing them? Am I given them an environment in which they feel safe with me and able willing to embrace you, your love, and your forgiveness? And are we using the resources you’ve given us to bless the community? To bless the volunteers? To bless the donors?
• My friends: Am I more about using them for what they can do for me, or do I care more about them and love them than I do myself?
• My community: You’ve given me a place to live. A small sphere of influence and an ability to affect change. Am I living up to the responsibility you have for me to actually affect that change, or will I meekly just watch the world go by and do nothing?

Okay, Uncle Sam gets some of my money, but there is so much that needs to go back to you. Father, help me to do better. Help me to be one step better today. I have a couple of things happening later today. Give me eyes to see everything you have given to me, and show me how to give it all back to you.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen