Mark 12:13-17 Give Unto Caesar ...

In todays lesson we have the Pharisees and some supporters of Herod trying to trap Jesus again, by asking him if they should pay taxes.   Jesus says to them in vs. 17 "give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God."   His replay completely amazed them."

There is a practical application of yes, we should be giving our country its due, by paying taxes.    There is a financial obligation on the believers part to by truthful with our finances and recording.  

But the lesson isn't just about finances, this is also a call to the Pharisees to "give to God what belongs to God", this relates directly to yesterday's lesson in regards to the story of the evil farmers.    I think these verses are about integrity, integrity with our funds, and government, but also for Church leaders it is about integrity with their flock that they've been given charge of.    I do think that we sometimes misplace the blessings of God.   There are times when we give credit for the blessings of a new car, of a job, of a family to all our doing, when in fact God has allowed us to enjoy these things.

Remember the old hymn, 'count your blessings, name them one-by-one, count your many blessings, that GOD has done".   We need to do this with God as well.   acknowledge what God has done, don't take it all for granted.   God does so much work in a believers life, but sometimes we don't see it because we pat ourselves on our own backs, instead of giving back to God .... instead of giving him the praise that he so rightly deserves.