This is part of a year-long series. Learn more about this series here.

Mark 12:13-17

“Then they sent some of the Pharisees and the Herodians to Him to trap Him by what He said. When they came, they said to Him, “Teacher, we know You are truthful and defer to no one, for You don’t show partiality but teach truthfully the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?

Should we pay, or should we not pay?” But knowing their hypocrisy, He said to them, “Why are you testing Me? Bring Me a denarius to look at.”

So they brought one. “Whose image and inscription is this?” He asked them. “Caesar’s,” they said.

Then Jesus told them, “Give back to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they were amazed at Him.”

I am by nature a selfish person, but I am grateful for the work God has done in me to become more selfless. As I look back at my younger self, one of my points of selfishness manifested in finances. I had a very strong view of how people should manage their money, and if they chose to manage it differently, then they were dumb and wrong. Again, I rejoice in the maturity God has brought me through so that I no longer think so poorly of others.

As I reflect on the mindset and heart-posture of my younger self, I notice that my deeply held opinion of managing finances was partially rooted in my desire not to be inconvenienced, needed, or expected to help someone else — “they should take care of themselves so that I don’t have to!” This is a very selfish mindset.

As I matured, I noticed my mindset shifted to actually wanting to help, wanting to contribute. Interestingly enough, I began wanting to contribute to our government in the form of paying taxes. I now want to pay my taxes. The idea of finding loopholes to avoid paying taxes feels slimy. Our currency system is implemented by our government, not me. Caesar minted the coins that people used and exchanged to build wealth in the First Century, and the U.S. government does the same for me. Under such circumstances, Jesus tells us to “give back to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s.” This is a command I have been learning to embrace, and I am able to freely and joyfully give instead of being enslaved to resentment for needing to give.