What’s Owed?
International travel invites opportunities to experience other cultures, and examining foreign coins can be fun. Calculating exchange rates while on a trip is a good mental exercise.
Jesus also dealt with money. He didn’t shy away from teaching about financial concepts.
In one marketplace encounter, religious leaders sent spies to try and trip up Jesus. The secret agents purred in what we can imagine as a sugary tone, “Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar?”
Their thinly veiled question packed a punch. If Jesus said not to pay taxes, then Roman authorities could cite him for rebellion. If he said Jews should honor the Roman occupiers, then the Jews would grumble about financing the pagan occupation.
Jesus’ response stumped his opponents. “Show me a denarius,” he said. “Whose image and inscription are on it?” (Luke 20:23 NIV).
We can picture calloused hands in the crowd, as well as those with soft palms, digging inside their leather pouches to retrieve shiny coins. The people answered that Caesar’s likeness is what they saw.
Without missing a beat, Jesus advised, “Then give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s” (Luke 20:25).
We are wise to do the same. Money is a tool to purchase goods and services. Money is a servant to accomplish God’s work. When we worship how much is in our bank account or on our financial statements, we forget that we are only stewards of God’s gifts for a season.
Remember that it is in God we trust.
Today’s prayer:
“Dear Lord, thank you for providing funds so that we can buy what we need. We appreciate Your presence—and presents.”
Devotional video at https://youtu.be/sdL5m8Pw2R8
***To read Bible verses about wealth, consider "Treasures of the Wise: 30 Devotions to Store Up Heavenly Riches." Available from Amazon and https://www.amazon.com/Treasures-Wise-Devotions-Storing-Heavenly/dp/1649607210?crid=1JRWLQRJ4HTRY&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.4sPiLoBJOvOVb8_-FrhPunWYyJ8K9xmC5L8JN70C1dw1A_PrrmkYBNgPK7HjxRQm2q0vO3kvKuSdP80zkWFdrH0X4hMvbZU9sXeICkTwyF4.Lf7CH_IT1gDA2DKJSgkFUshEdo0nayLvmpR3jtQjbtQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=Treasures+of+the+Wise:+30+Devotions+for+Storing+Up+Heavenly+Riches&qid=1728768395&sprefix=treasures+of+the+wise+30+devotions+for+storing+up+heavenly+riches,aps,328&sr=8-1&linkCode=sl1&tag=ambassadorint-20&linkId=a92aa647bcd8482592fc50a3af6979b3&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl.
“Author Tracy L. Smoak has a gift to see God's presence all around us every day. These devotions are filled with insightful observations relevant to everyone. I recommend this guide to discover treasures of wisdom and knowledge in the Bible.” —Tim Smith, financial advisor, group facilitator for Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University
