“Now tell us what you think about this: Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?’ But Jesus knew their evil motives. ‘You hypocrites!’ he said. ‘Why are you trying to trap me? Here, show me the coin used for the tax.’ When they handed him a Roman coin, he asked, ‘Whose picture and title are stamped on it?’ ‘Caesar’s’, they replied. ‘Well, then,’ he said, ‘give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.”

It’s “Tax Day” in the United States (well, actually in this year of 2011 it’s Monday, April 18. The traditional tax return filing deadline is April 15 of each year, but the IRS has approved April 18, 2011 as the tax filing deadline for 2010 Tax Returns and extension requests in observation of Emancipation Day in the District of Columbia). Tax Day always brings with it a lot of stress and emotion and in these recent times even more emotion and conversation about what we should or shouldn’t be paying in taxes for our government. These discussions, at work, at home, at parties, or wherever can get us riled up and can cause us to lose control of our emotions and/or words. Our discourse about politics and government has an edge to it today that I cannot ever remember before. I find myself right there too and the conversations that I am most sorry for or ashamed of after are too often rooted in politics. As we work with with others it is important that we not let our politics taint or hurt what are otherwise great relationships. Also, politics in the workplace can be career damaging, so in this area it might be best to just keep it to ourselves unless asked and even then, to only share with the highest level of sensitivity and respect of the opinions, thoughts, and feeling of others.

Jesus gave us all we need to know about our priorities and actions as it relates to our government views. He said that we are to render to Caesar what is Caesar’s and then give to God what belongs to Him. As we think about all that we have, it is a small part of our life that we owe back to our government. While no one likes taxes, what I hear Jesus saying is that to not let what has to be given back in taxes to be a focus or the overriding concern. What He wants us to do is instead focus on what is to be given back to Him and that is who and all we are. As we complete those tax forms (and have the few extra days this year) let us do so with our hearts and minds in the right place and more ready than ever to render ourselves more to Christ and what He wants from us. Let’s use April 15 as another marker and reminder of the gift that God gave to us in Jesus, the gift that comes without any owing, obligation, or tax and continues to multiply and multiply for each of us.

Reference: Matthew 22:17-21 (New Living Testament)