“So they watched him and sent spies who pretended to be honest, in order to trap him by what he said, so as to hand him over to the jurisdiction and authority of the governor. ²¹ So they asked him, “Teacher, we know that you are right in what you say and teach, and you show deference to no one, but teach the way of God in accordance with truth. ²² Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?” ²³ But he perceived their craftiness and said to them, ²⁴ “Show me a denarius. Whose head and whose title does it bear?” They said, “The emperor’s.” ²⁵ He said to them, “Then give to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” ²⁶ And they were not able in the presence of the people to trap him by what he said; and being amazed by his answer, they became silent.” Luke 20:20-26

Give to the Emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to G-d the things that are G-d’s. Sounds easy, right? If you have lived at all, you know that it is much more difficult than that. When it comes to giving money, deciding how much to give or arguing against what is being asked for, giving can become problematic.    And the issue can go beyond money, because when our time or talent goes too much to one and too little to the other, then we can lose the balance that we need in our lives. Christ says that we are to strike a balance….but ultimately G-d’s claim on us should maintain its rightful place.

G-d’s claim on us, on our very lives, on all that we have, is what should drive our every action. But that…is…hard. To make every decision and to determine every action based on our relationship with Jesus is something we can strive for – but will always be more of a goal than an accomplishment. After all, Jesus came to save the sick, not only those who are well.

Pastor Dave

 ^“Now Adonijah son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, “I will be king”; he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him. ⁶ His father had never at any time displeased him by asking, “Why have you done thus and so?” He was also a very handsome man, and he was born next after Absalom. ⁷ He conferred with Joab son of Zeruiah and with the priest Abiathar, and they supported Adonijah. ⁸ But the priest Zadok, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and the prophet Nathan, and Shimei, and Rei, and David’s own warriors did not side with Adonijah. ⁹ Adonijah sacrificed sheep, oxen, and fatted cattle by the stone Zoheleth, which is beside En-rogel, and he invited all his brothers, the king’s sons, and all the royal officials of Judah, ¹⁰ but he did not invite the prophet Nathan or Benaiah or the warriors or his brother Solomon. ¹¹ Then Nathan said to Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother, “Have you not heard that Adonijah son of Haggith has become king and our lord David does not know it? ¹² Now therefore come, let me give you advice, so that you may save your own life and the life of your son Solomon. ¹³ Go in at once to King David, and say to him, ‘Did you not, my lord the king, swear to your servant, saying: Your son Solomon shall succeed me as king, and he shall sit on my throne? Why then is Adonijah king?’ ¹⁴ Then while you are still there speaking with the king, I will come in after you and confirm your words.” 1 Kings 1:5-14

Solomon is appointed by David to be king, appointed over his brother Adonijah, for no apparent reason, just like Adonijah appoints or “exalts” himself over others to become king. Adonijah is the only living son of the first four sons born to David, and so assumes that the kingship is rightly his – and so he acts on his own account, even before David is dead. Solomon is appointed by others, and remains a passive figure appearing to have the will of G-d on his side. But, this is the way that the bible works things out. No matter how humans scheme, G-d’s will is worked out, often to our and their surprise. Recall these stories: Joseph is sold into slavery by his own family; Abraham is told to kill his only son, the one through whom the promise of generations were to come; a shepherd boy kills a giant; G-d’s son is put on a cross. No matter what we might think, G-d will do as G-d will do – we just need to hang on for the ride.

Pastor Dave