LIVE FULLY WITHOUT REGRETS


By Rev. Michael Benson Ajayi

       Matt 22:19-21Show me the coin used for paying the tax." They brought him a denarius,  and he asked them, "Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?"  "Caesar's," they replied.Then he said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's."
         The religious extremists of Jesus’ time thought of many ways by which they could truncate His ministry and in one instance they hatched the idea of setting a cultural trap by asking this very dishonest question . The inscription on the coin was Ceaser’s  claim to divinity and as emperor. Ceaser desired to be worshiped.On the contrary , Jews are God’s chosen people and victims of Roman oppression financed through the paying of taxes. Therefore, the paying of taxes by a Jew of which Jesus was by genealogy was indirectly financing the oppression of God’s people thus, compromising Jesus' claim to holiness. Refusal to pay was a treasonable felony that attracted a death penalty.Therefore, there was no direct answer to the question posed by the Pharisees.
           There can never be a right answer to a wrong question and this informed Jesus' approached this questions . He answered them with such simple wisdom that these Pharisees and Herodians were caught in their philosophical trap. Jesus declared, "Render ( administer) to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's" (Mk. 12:17).
         We are made in God's image and must render to God the things belonging to God (our being) and to Caesar the things belonging to Caesar (civic duties). Do not allow anybody condemns you for using the world's goods and services to achieve a profitable venture as in (Luke 7:33-34) The born again believer will never be accepted by the world as deserving honour ,our best acts of kindness will always be misinterpreted for folly. The Christian is mocked for being poor and ridiculed for being rich. The world should not determine your rights to a happy and fulfilled life. Live to please God , that is what matters above all. Therefore, living to please the world in itself is bondage that we must liberate ourselves from by remembering that the earth and all in it belongs to God Psalm 24 and we are His offsprings with infinite-supreme rights and privileges. 
Prayer : Heavenly Father forgive me of my sins against you I believe Jesus Christ died and was raised again for my salvation, I receive him as lord and saviour and receive grace for extraordinary excellence in my chosen field of endeavor in Jesus name.
Free prayer/counseling +2348098536911,+2348035536911, email:michaelbensonajayi@gmail.com
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