“Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” This text has been used in all sorts of ways.
It’s been used by some to argue that we shouldn’t have to pay any taxes. Can you see why? Pay no allegiance to Caesar is what Jesus is saying.
It’s been used by others to argue that we should certainly pay taxes, that this offers us a model of civility in living harmoniously in both the worldly realm and the religious realm. That’s kind of how Luther used this passage in his time, where people wanted to rebel violently against the powers that were...
Unfortunately Jesus doesn’t answer the Pharisees’ question about money directly…I believe mostly because the Pharisees weren’t asking it as a stewardship question on their Stewardship Sunday. They had different intentions: they wanted to trap Jesus. And they knew they could trap him with either answer he gave.
So I’m not sure how directly helpful this text is for Stewardship Sunday. Jesus isn’t giving us any clear cut answers. Other places in the Bible he does; it’s a good thing we don’t have to read that passage where he says very plainly – “sell all that you have and give it to the poor.” Or the passage in Acts where those who don’t give a percentage of their income are accused of stealing from God…which is a continuation of an over-arching theme throughout the OT. But this text today is not so blunt. Rather it leads us to understanding and insights about offering up money in more indirect…and graceful ways.
There’s not a straight answer for us on how much to give in this text. Rather we are offered (2 things) an idea about intentions, and led once again to a beautiful conclusion – that all “our” money and stuff is actually God’s.
First of all, I think the Gospel story today raises for us the question of intentions when we talk about money. The Pharisees had intentions when they asked Jesus about money. As you consider what to write or what not to write on your pledge cards, what are the intentions behind the questions you might have: “Why am I being asked to make a financial pledge to this church, again?” What might the intentions be behind that kind of question? In other words, what gives birth to your questions about financial stewardship in the church? Sometimes just our tone of voice can be a give-away for our intentions. Are our questions born out of mistrust, anger, fear, or a way to trap…like the Pharisees?
Or are our questions around money and what to offer born of something else? Joy, peace, trust in the abundance of God’s love and grace. “How might God use me? How can I make a pledge that is an expression of my thankfulness to God, for all God has given me?”
This question of what to pledge is really a chance to reflect on yourself. To look in the mirror at yourself, to look at your own life, and to consider God’s blessings, God’s presence in many and various ways. Maybe that sounds obvious, but pledging once again this year is not about looking at the church and determining whether a larger or smaller sum is appropriate for this year. It’s about looking at yourself and considering God’s grace and abundance in your life.
Go home with your pledge card, set some time aside, say a prayer of thanksgiving, and then write down your pledge. (if you need some more specific direction in that – I like to just stick with the biblical model of tithing, 10% of your income, or at least working up to that each year. But I know some pastors that say go home, pray, figure out the absolute most you can give, and then bump it up one more percentage point – just to emphasize the sacrificial component of stewardship. It should hurt a little.)
Pledging at your central place of worship (whether that’s here or elsewhere), during stewardship season, is ultimately a gift for you, not your gift to the church. It is an opportunity for each of us to make a statement about how much we trust in God.
Are your intentions and your questions around money and giving born out of distrust and fear, anger or the need to trap or control? Or are they born out of joy, peace, trust, thanksgiving? Or maybe you’re somewhere in the middle…wanting to have your questions born out of joy and peace, but feeling stuck in fear and distrust – distrust of institutions or people, maybe even distrust of God – and angry about it all. Sisters and brothers in Christ, God is with us in our bitterness and resentment, in our mistrust and anger. God is with us, nudging us, holding us, comforting and challenging us…as the Holy Spirit guides us into new realms of joy and thanksgiving. (HOD “Lord of All Hopefulness” along these lines)
You know, I used to say that I hated Stewardship Sunday, as a pastor, having to talk about money and giving, how hard that is, and then I’d even drag other pastors in with me and make a blanket statement…but…I think you here at SVLC have witnessed a sort of evolution in my rhetoric…
It’s a joy to be able to proclaim and bear witness to the fact that your being invited to offer up one of this earthly life’s greatest treasures, your money, is a gift.
This day and this text is a gift, Stewardship Sunday, Jesus talking about “give to Caesar what is Caesars and to God what is God’s”, for it all brings us back to the blessed conclusion …
Read together the stewardship insert.
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