And He said to them,
"Render therefore to Caesar
the things that are Caesar's,
and to God the things that are God's."
Matthew 22:21
If I had to choose one favorite quote from Jesus, this would probably be it. I am always impressed by how He so deftly meets His enemies' attempts to trip Him up with this simple statement, so rich with spiritual truth. As the coinage of a kingdom bears the image of its ultimate owner and master, so Jesus infers that the image we bear tells to whom we belong: God, our Maker. The true issue, He says, is one of not human taxes and politics, but of whether we are giving our full allegiance -- our very selves -- to God, who is far greater than any earthly ruler. To hold back what rightfully belongs to Him is treason above all else. Are you giving God His due?