We Belong To God

 

I was an avid coin collector when I was little. Back then, you could still find old coins in your regular change. I’d regularly check my parents’ change and all the coins I got on my paper route. Sometimes, I’d even get a roll of coins from the bank so I could look through them. Once in awhile I hit the jackpot when we found some old coins that had been put away somewhere and then forgotten. I’m not an active collector now but I still have all my old coin books.

 

It’s interesting who and what goes onto the face of a coin. I was fascinated by the different designs that were on the state quarters a few years ago. I’m amazed at the quality of the designs and inscriptions that I see on some ancient coins.  When I see an old Roman coin, I’m reminded of the time when Jesus’ enemies tried to trap Him with a question about paying taxes. He said to them,

 

“Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. He said to them, “Then give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” (Luke 20:24-25).

 

Just as the coin bearing the image of Caesar belonged to Caesar, we who bear the image of God (Genesis 1:27) belong to Him. Thus, when Jesus says to give to God what is God’s, He means that we should give our whole selves to Him. All that we do – our relationships, our work, our finances – should be seen from this perspective. It’s comforting to know that, in return, God will take care of us because we are His people.

 

We’ll take a deeper look at how we live this out in my next post.