Render Unto Caesar

I Chronicles 18:9–17

“When Tou king of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer king of Zobah, he sent his son Hadoram to King David to greet him and congratulate him on his victory in battle over Hadadezer, who had been at war with Tou. Hadoram brought all kinds of articles of gold, of silver and of bronze. King David dedicated these articles to the LORD, as he had done with the silver and gold he had taken from all these nations: Edom and Moab, the Ammonites and the Philistines, and Amalek. Abishai son of Zeruiah struck down eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt. He put garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became subject to David. The LORD gave David victory wherever he went. David reigned over all Israel, doing what was just and right for all his people. Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder; Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelek son of Abiathar were priests; Shavsha was secretary; Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and Pelethites; and David’s sons were chief officials at the king’s side.”

All blessing is from God and we honour Him when we allow ourselves to rechannel these back into the coffers that further the expansion of His Kingdom, not our own, on earth. Indeed, “every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning (Jam 1:17)”. King David did well to offer gifts given to him into the temple (v. 11), to Him who gave the king his victories. But He is not only interested in these treasures, for the song says, “what do I have that You have not given, and what can I give that is not already Yours?” God is ultimately glorified in us living for Him, by dedicating our lives set aside for Him. When the LORD was asked whether the people should pay taxes or tribute to the colonising Roman empire, His response was masterful, “Jesus saw through their hypocrisy and said, “Why are you testing Me? Bring Me a denarius to inspect.” So they brought it, and He asked them, “Whose image and likeness is this? And whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they answered. Then Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”(Mark 12:15–17).” Friends whose image is on you?