Stewardship
Heart, 9 March 2025
09 03 25 Filed in: Sermons | Master Your Money
Heart: Behavior Follows Belief
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
Master Your Money
March 9, 2025
Matthew 6:19-21
Series Big Idea: We can find freedom in our finances through God’s Word.
Sermon Big Idea: Your behavior follows belief, whether it’s faith, wisdom, contentment, or stewardship.
Scripture Reading: Matthew 6:19-21
Many years ago, I woke up early in the morning with chest pains. They weren’t severe, but they were unusual. I went into the kitchen, took some Advil, and hoped the pain would subside. It did.
Hours later, I told Heather about the chest pains, and she was understandably concerned. She insisted I see a doctor, so I did. The results? I’ll share them at the end of this sermon!
Our heart is important—arguably the most vital organ in our body besides the brain. But today, we’re not talking about the physical heart. We’re talking about the heart as the center of our emotions, inner feelings, and essence.
Jesus famously said the greatest commandment is to:
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." (Mark 12:30)
As we continue our series Master Your Money, the core message is simple: our behavior follows our belief. This applies to faith, wisdom, contentment, and stewardship. If you want to improve your financial life, it starts with your heart.
Jesus spoke more about money than heaven and hell combined. Sixteen of His 38 parables deal with finances. The Bible contains over 2,000 verses on money and possessions.
As I said last week, this is not a sermon about giving, nor are we launching a capital campaign. In fact, our church is financially healthy, thanks to the good stewardship of many of you. This series isn’t about what College First wants from you but rather what God wants for you.
The reality is that many of you are struggling with money, and the issue may not be your paycheck. The big idea of this series is:
We can find financial freedom through God’s Word.
And it all begins in the heart.
Rate yourself from 1 (never) to 5 (always):
Stewardship: Do I believe God owns it all?
King David declared:
"The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it." (Psalm 24:1)
Yes, you worked hard for your house, your car, your whatever. Maybe you studied hard for that degree or put in extra hours at the office. But ultimately, we wouldn’t have education, jobs, or opportunities without God’s provision.
Stewardship means recognizing that we are responsible for using God’s gifts wisely. We can hoard our resources or live with open hands, allowing God to give and take away (Job 1:21).
Contentment: Do I believe what I have right now is enough?
We are alive. We have clothes, food, and one another. Most importantly, we have Jesus! He is the secret to true contentment. Paul wrote:
"I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through Him who gives me strength."(Philippians 4:11-13)
If your happiness depends on getting something, whether it’s a spouse, a car, a raise, or a million social media followers, you may be chasing an idol. Scripture warns:
"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’" (Hebrews 13:5)
I’m fascinated by how the book of Hebrews connects contentment with God’s presence.
Faith: Do I demonstrate my faith through my finances?
Do you really trust God with everything? What faith-filled risks are you taking with your finances?
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. (Hebrews 11:1)
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. (Hebrews 11:16)
Last week, someone handed me an envelope of money, saying, “I believe God wants me to give this to you.” No strings attached. No request made. Just simple obedience. I don’t know if she is wealthy, but she put her faith into action, trusting God to provide.
Do you believe in God? Prove it!
"You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder... faith without deeds is dead." (James 2:19, 26)
We are saved by faith, not works. But our works reveal our faith.
Wisdom: Do I believe God’s wisdom is true and available?
"For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere." (James 3:16-17)
We need to be wise with our money. Many people just spend until it’s gone…and then grab a credit card. With over 2000 verses about money in the Bible, we have access to timeless wisdom regarding finances. How do we get wisdom?
"If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you." (James 1:5)
If you want wisdom, ask. If you want faith, ask. If you want contentment, ask.
I’m grateful to the Ron Blue Institute for this picture of our heart. Our actions begin in our brain. Behavior follows belief. God can be trusted, and the truth will set us free.
We were all horrified by the images of wildfires in California recently. Have you ever thought about what you would try to save if your home was on the verge of destruction?
Our scripture reading for today is quite clear. Jesus says,
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. Matt. 6:19
I’ve discovered many so-called luxury items are not only unnecessary, they’re expensive…to insure, maintain, repair, and replace. What are your greatest treasures?
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matt. 6:20-21)
Treasures in heaven. No insurance necessary! No shipping, no tax, no depreciation. That sounds pretty good to me!
And heaven. Think about that for a moment. Whatever you buy in this life will be useful to you for 70, 80, maybe 90 years. But heaven? How long is eternity?
Do you have treasures…or do your treasures have you?
So What?
I was relieved when the Advil helped with my chest pains. The diagnosis? Pericarditis—inflammation of the sac around my heart. I didn’t even know my heart had a sac! The doctor said to take Advil, and I’d be fine. And I was, praise God.
But our spiritual heart is even more important. I want my heart to be healthy, filled with love, courage, compassion, and generosity. I want to love God with all of it—including my financial world.
Where do you need to grow? Stewardship? Contentment? Faith? Wisdom? Ask—and tell someone. Don’t go it alone. If you don’t have a spouse, reach out to a friend for accountability.
Next week, we’ll talk about how to use money in ways that honor God. Until then, consider your next step toward a God-honoring heart regarding money.
Credits: some material from the Ron Blue Institute, some edits by ChatGPT
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
Master Your Money
March 9, 2025
Matthew 6:19-21
Series Big Idea: We can find freedom in our finances through God’s Word.
Sermon Big Idea: Your behavior follows belief, whether it’s faith, wisdom, contentment, or stewardship.
Scripture Reading: Matthew 6:19-21
Many years ago, I woke up early in the morning with chest pains. They weren’t severe, but they were unusual. I went into the kitchen, took some Advil, and hoped the pain would subside. It did.
Hours later, I told Heather about the chest pains, and she was understandably concerned. She insisted I see a doctor, so I did. The results? I’ll share them at the end of this sermon!
Our heart is important—arguably the most vital organ in our body besides the brain. But today, we’re not talking about the physical heart. We’re talking about the heart as the center of our emotions, inner feelings, and essence.
Jesus famously said the greatest commandment is to:
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." (Mark 12:30)
As we continue our series Master Your Money, the core message is simple: our behavior follows our belief. This applies to faith, wisdom, contentment, and stewardship. If you want to improve your financial life, it starts with your heart.
Jesus spoke more about money than heaven and hell combined. Sixteen of His 38 parables deal with finances. The Bible contains over 2,000 verses on money and possessions.
As I said last week, this is not a sermon about giving, nor are we launching a capital campaign. In fact, our church is financially healthy, thanks to the good stewardship of many of you. This series isn’t about what College First wants from you but rather what God wants for you.
The reality is that many of you are struggling with money, and the issue may not be your paycheck. The big idea of this series is:
We can find financial freedom through God’s Word.
And it all begins in the heart.
Rate yourself from 1 (never) to 5 (always):
- Stewardship: Do I believe I am a steward of my possessions and hold them with an open hand?
- Contentment: Am I content with what I have right now?
- Faith: Do I seek God’s direction in my finances and trust in His provision?
- Wisdom: Do my financial decisions align with biblical principles?
Stewardship: Do I believe God owns it all?
King David declared:
"The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it." (Psalm 24:1)
Yes, you worked hard for your house, your car, your whatever. Maybe you studied hard for that degree or put in extra hours at the office. But ultimately, we wouldn’t have education, jobs, or opportunities without God’s provision.
Stewardship means recognizing that we are responsible for using God’s gifts wisely. We can hoard our resources or live with open hands, allowing God to give and take away (Job 1:21).
Contentment: Do I believe what I have right now is enough?
We are alive. We have clothes, food, and one another. Most importantly, we have Jesus! He is the secret to true contentment. Paul wrote:
"I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through Him who gives me strength."(Philippians 4:11-13)
If your happiness depends on getting something, whether it’s a spouse, a car, a raise, or a million social media followers, you may be chasing an idol. Scripture warns:
"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’" (Hebrews 13:5)
I’m fascinated by how the book of Hebrews connects contentment with God’s presence.
Faith: Do I demonstrate my faith through my finances?
Do you really trust God with everything? What faith-filled risks are you taking with your finances?
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. (Hebrews 11:1)
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. (Hebrews 11:16)
Last week, someone handed me an envelope of money, saying, “I believe God wants me to give this to you.” No strings attached. No request made. Just simple obedience. I don’t know if she is wealthy, but she put her faith into action, trusting God to provide.
Do you believe in God? Prove it!
"You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder... faith without deeds is dead." (James 2:19, 26)
We are saved by faith, not works. But our works reveal our faith.
Wisdom: Do I believe God’s wisdom is true and available?
"For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere." (James 3:16-17)
We need to be wise with our money. Many people just spend until it’s gone…and then grab a credit card. With over 2000 verses about money in the Bible, we have access to timeless wisdom regarding finances. How do we get wisdom?
"If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you." (James 1:5)
If you want wisdom, ask. If you want faith, ask. If you want contentment, ask.
I’m grateful to the Ron Blue Institute for this picture of our heart. Our actions begin in our brain. Behavior follows belief. God can be trusted, and the truth will set us free.
We were all horrified by the images of wildfires in California recently. Have you ever thought about what you would try to save if your home was on the verge of destruction?
Our scripture reading for today is quite clear. Jesus says,
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. Matt. 6:19
I’ve discovered many so-called luxury items are not only unnecessary, they’re expensive…to insure, maintain, repair, and replace. What are your greatest treasures?
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matt. 6:20-21)
Treasures in heaven. No insurance necessary! No shipping, no tax, no depreciation. That sounds pretty good to me!
And heaven. Think about that for a moment. Whatever you buy in this life will be useful to you for 70, 80, maybe 90 years. But heaven? How long is eternity?
Do you have treasures…or do your treasures have you?
So What?
I was relieved when the Advil helped with my chest pains. The diagnosis? Pericarditis—inflammation of the sac around my heart. I didn’t even know my heart had a sac! The doctor said to take Advil, and I’d be fine. And I was, praise God.
But our spiritual heart is even more important. I want my heart to be healthy, filled with love, courage, compassion, and generosity. I want to love God with all of it—including my financial world.
Where do you need to grow? Stewardship? Contentment? Faith? Wisdom? Ask—and tell someone. Don’t go it alone. If you don’t have a spouse, reach out to a friend for accountability.
Next week, we’ll talk about how to use money in ways that honor God. Until then, consider your next step toward a God-honoring heart regarding money.
Credits: some material from the Ron Blue Institute, some edits by ChatGPT
Church & State, 18 April 2021
Church & State
Series—Mark: The Real Jesus
Mark 12:13-17
Series Big Idea: Mark’s gospel is the most concise biography of Jesus.
Big Idea: Ultimately, everything we have belongs to the King of kings.
We’ve been going verse-by-verse through the book of Mark, the shortest of the four gospels or “good news” that tell the story of Jesus.
If you joined us last week, Jesus retold an ancient parable to the religious leaders, making them the bad guys in what Isaiah prophesied about Israel. Put simply, Jesus called them out, adding fuel to the fire of these wicked leaders who wanted to see the Messiah killed. They were successful in getting Christ crucified, but their victory was short-lived.
He is risen! He is risen indeed!
Our text today is short…only five verses. Before we look at them, it’s helpful to understand some historical background. As a Jew, Jesus spent most of his life and ministry among Jews living under Roman rule in a culture that had many gods. The people of Israel were somewhat unique in their monotheism, their belief in one God.
The shema—the most essential prayer in Judaism, often prayed each morning and evening—begins
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. (Deuteronomy 6:4)
One God…who exists in three Person: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
In Jesus’ day, some leaders were considered gods. This may seem odd in our culture, but that’s how much power they possessed among the people. Caesar was not an elected official like we have presidents and governors. But he ruled and taxed and was not exactly admired by the Jews!
Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words. (Mark 12:13).
We’ve heard about the Pharisees. They were the conservative, legalistic Jewish leaders. Here Mark also mentions the Herodians. They were a political group who supported Herod. The Pharisees and Herodians are strange bedfellows! It’s amazing how people can come together over a common enemy, in this case Jesus. These religious leaders are ruthless! They have already determined to kill Jesus. They are doing everything possible to destroy his credibility, to “catch him in his words.”
Have you ever had someone “out to get you?” Do you walk on eggshells, so to speak, when you’re around certain people? Imagine your greatest critics were literally seeking to kill you!
In our text for today, a question is brought to Jesus, but they were not seeking knowledge. They were trying to trap Jesus.
Why do you do the things you do? I’m a big fan of the “why?” Motives matter. We often do things without even realizing why we’re doing them. Good and bad habits dictate many of our actions. It’s possible to even do good things with bad motives. This is a perfect example. Mark tells us from the beginning the “why.”
They came to him and said, “Teacher, we know that you are a man of integrity. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. (Mark 12:14a)
Notice they begin by buttering him up, praising him for his integrity. Their sarcasm—or anger in a clown suit!—is actually true. Jesus is a man of integrity. He wasn’t swayed by others. He taught the way of God in accordance with the truth. They were masquerading as genuine followers of Jesus and the truth, but they weren’t. Are you ready for the question?
Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not? Should we pay or shouldn’t we?” (Mark 12:14b-15a)
You have to admit it’s a good question! After all, the law of Moses written hundreds of years earlier which guided Jewish conduct knew nothing of Rome or Caesar or imperial taxes. It was a different era, much in the same way we face questions today which are not explicitly spelled out in the Bible.
Again, it’s a practical question, but it was asked with impure motives. I’m sure they were excited, placing Jesus in a no-win situation. Or so they thought!
But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. “Why are you trying to trap me?” he asked. “Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” (Mark 12:15b)
There are a lot of people who look, act, and sound impressive. They know the Bible. They go to church. They have the perfect family. Everyone knows about their generosity. But some simply know how to put on a show. The word for “hypocrite” is from the same root word as “actor.” Jesus knew their hearts…and he knows ours, too. One of my favorite verses in the Bible involves the selection of the next king of Israel.
But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” (1Samuel 16:7)
As I’ve said, these religious leaders were impressive. Their books were on the bestseller list. They had thousands of followers of social media. Their podcasts were hugely popular. Their tv shows had great ratings. But their hearts were wicked.
By the way, some things never change. Like many of you, I’ve been deeply disappointed seeing various Christian leaders fail over the years. They are impressive, but fail to finish the race well. Their charisma attracts great crowds, but their character is corrupt. The outside of the cup is shiny, but inside it’s filthy.
Jesus asks them for what we would call a penny. He may not have even had one himself. He had no credit cards!
They brought the coin, and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”
“Caesar’s,” they replied. (Mark 12:16)
If Jesus said give to Tiberius Caesar, the Roman emperor, that would imply Caesar was greater than Moses, and they would’ve accused him of idolatry. If he said don’t give to Caesar, the Roman authority would have great concern! That would be insurrection. One response would offend the Pharisees, the other the Herodians.
You may know the Jews were not allowed to make carved images, yet the Roman coin had Caesar’s image on it…along with writing that said in Latin, “Augustus Tiberius, son of the divine Augustus.” On the other side, it said, “High Priest.” This coin was more than just a way to buy goods and services. It was a statement of power the Jews found downright offensive.
Then Jesus said to them, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.”
God is sovereign and in control over all, including Caesar!
And they were amazed at him. (Mark 12:17)
I’m sure they were also very disappointed for their trap failed. They were flooded in divine wisdom regarding stewardship, but found no evidence to support their quest to end his life.
Jesus is amazing! Jesus’ teachings are amazing. His life and death and resurrection are amazing. His prayers and intercession for us now are amazing. His return will be amazing. Best of all, spending eternity with Jesus will be amazing!
So What?
- We have a responsibility to government.
Paul wrote to the church in Rome:
Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. (Romans 13:1)
Obviously there have been times throughout history when a choice must be made between following Jesus and following the government. Our first allegiance must be to God, but He has created three institutions for human flourishing: the family, the Church, and government. As much as we criticize government, we would be far worse without a defense, schools, roads, and other services they provide. I rarely hear people say their taxes are too low, but they are needed to fund the government.
Jesus said to give to Caesar—or the government—what belongs to Caesar.
Columbus takes 7% of nearly everything we buy. Lucas County takes ¼% of our purchases. Washington DC takes…too much!
But the message is about more than money. It may include obeying laws, including speed limits! We may have a responsibility to the government to apply for the draft when such a thing is required. We give our time to the government and to one another when we vote. Good citizens can do many things to partner with and serve the government for the sake of the community.
One of the challenges in our culture is hyper individualism. The attitude of many is it’s all about them. We’ve even brought this into the church, saying Christianity is all about me and my personal relationship with Jesus. A personal relationship with Jesus is incredibly important, but we were created for community. Following Christ is a team sport. That’s why we have the Church.
- We have a responsibility to the Church. We are to give. We are to serve. We are to love one another. We are to do life together. When it’s good, it’s really good! I admit when we get it wrong, it’s really ugly. In fact, the gossip, judging, condemnation, hypocrisy, and even hatred of so-called Christians has called many to end their pursuit of God. Few things break my heart more than hearing of people who have walked away from God because of a bad experience with the Church.
If you’ve been hurt by Christians—and we all have—I’m sorry. Please forgive me. Please forgive us. Saying we’re not perfect is no excuse, though it’s true! We all need Jesus. I sometimes wonder why God entrusted His Kingdom to broken ragamuffins like us instead of Jesus spending more than three years of ministry here on earth.
But we have responsibility to one another. I need you. You need me. None of us has all of the spiritual gifts. Give to the church what belongs to the church. Yes, that includes not only time but also talents and treasures. Now that we’re opening up more, I encourage you to get in a Life Group, serve on the Hospitality Team, join the Music or Tech Teams, …and support God’s work here and around the world with your finances.
Some religions have what are essentially dues in order to participate. We don’t sell tickets around here! But one of our newly adopted core values as a church which we’ll reveal in the coming months is generosity. God is generous. He gave us the most precious possible gift…His son Jesus. Jesus gave us his life. What more could he give? The Holy Spirit fills the planet in every follower of Jesus.
Again, the message from today’s text is more than just money, but it certainly includes money. In a few weeks we’ll look at Jesus’ teaching on investing in God’s Kingdom.
I’ve had people over the years ask me if tithing is a command for us today. Tithe literally means ten percent and it was prescribed in Old Testament worship, not only of cash but crops. Paul wrote to the church in Corinth:
Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7)
We are a generous church. We have people that give dozens of volunteer hours each month. We have people generously sharing their talents and expertise. We have people who use their wealth to give extravagantly to bless our community.
I think ten percent is a good starting point for generosity, but it is by no means the max. Honestly, I can’t think of a better investment of finances than First Alliance Church and its work in Jerusalem, Judea & Samaria, and the ends of the earth through our Home Missions, Faith Missions, and Great Commission Fund partners. I love investing here!
By the way, in addition to giving cash online or in person, we can accept other assets and potentially save you substantial money on your taxes. If you have stocks, bonds, real estate, cattle, a business, or most any asset, we have the means of receiving them and using them for God’s glory.
As I said, the government, church, and family are the three institutions God created.
- We have a responsibility to our family. Parents, train your children in the way they should go (Proverbs 22:6). Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus:
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise—“so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” (Ephesians 6:1-3)
Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4)
Spouses,
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. (Ephesians 5:21)
Ultimately all of our responsibility to government, church, and family can be summarized in one command we’ll look at in two weeks:
The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:31)
I realize that verse is missing a bit of context…and it relates to our greatest responsibility…our responsibility to God.
Everything is created by God, for God, and for God’s glory.
If we are to properly give to Caesar’s, what do we give to God? When asked which of the commandments is the greatest…
“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ (Mark 12:29-30)
Did you catch Jesus quoting the shema? The Lord is one. We worship one God. How do we worship Him? With everything! All of our heart. All of our soul. All of our mind. All of our strength.
One hundred percent of our time, talents, and treasures belong to God. They’re on loan. We must be good stewards of what’s He’s entrusted to us.
How do your finances bring God glory?
How does your calendar bring God glory?
How does your physical body bring God glory?
How does your mind bring God glory?
What do I need to submit to God? Where is Jesus not LORD in my life?
Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar…and give to God what belongs to God…which is everything…including Caesar!
One more thing
You might think God is awfully demanding. You mean I have to give up everything to follow Jesus? Yes! You mean I have to die to myself and my desires and passions to serve God? Yes!
“Why would I give up everything for God?” Because He gave up everything for you. He loves you. He knows you. He created you. He knows your name. He wants nothing but the very best for you, even when it doesn’t feel good, even when the storms come, even when it’s not popular or politically-correct. God’s ways are perfect and so much higher than ours. He can be trusted.
We can do life our way. We can hoard our money. We can cheat on our taxes. We can rob God. We can be selfish with our talents and time. But disobeying God harms us more than anyone else. Eventually we’ll discover we don’t have all of the answers. We really need God. We need love.
I want to encourage you…you are loved, you are known, God is here, and He wants everything from you…and He wants to be your everything.
You can listen to this message and others at the First Alliance Church podcast here.
You can watch this video and others at the First Alliance Church Video Library here.
Series—Mark: The Real Jesus
Mark 12:13-17
Series Big Idea: Mark’s gospel is the most concise biography of Jesus.
Big Idea: Ultimately, everything we have belongs to the King of kings.
We’ve been going verse-by-verse through the book of Mark, the shortest of the four gospels or “good news” that tell the story of Jesus.
If you joined us last week, Jesus retold an ancient parable to the religious leaders, making them the bad guys in what Isaiah prophesied about Israel. Put simply, Jesus called them out, adding fuel to the fire of these wicked leaders who wanted to see the Messiah killed. They were successful in getting Christ crucified, but their victory was short-lived.
He is risen! He is risen indeed!
Our text today is short…only five verses. Before we look at them, it’s helpful to understand some historical background. As a Jew, Jesus spent most of his life and ministry among Jews living under Roman rule in a culture that had many gods. The people of Israel were somewhat unique in their monotheism, their belief in one God.
The shema—the most essential prayer in Judaism, often prayed each morning and evening—begins
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. (Deuteronomy 6:4)
One God…who exists in three Person: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
In Jesus’ day, some leaders were considered gods. This may seem odd in our culture, but that’s how much power they possessed among the people. Caesar was not an elected official like we have presidents and governors. But he ruled and taxed and was not exactly admired by the Jews!
Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words. (Mark 12:13).
We’ve heard about the Pharisees. They were the conservative, legalistic Jewish leaders. Here Mark also mentions the Herodians. They were a political group who supported Herod. The Pharisees and Herodians are strange bedfellows! It’s amazing how people can come together over a common enemy, in this case Jesus. These religious leaders are ruthless! They have already determined to kill Jesus. They are doing everything possible to destroy his credibility, to “catch him in his words.”
Have you ever had someone “out to get you?” Do you walk on eggshells, so to speak, when you’re around certain people? Imagine your greatest critics were literally seeking to kill you!
In our text for today, a question is brought to Jesus, but they were not seeking knowledge. They were trying to trap Jesus.
Why do you do the things you do? I’m a big fan of the “why?” Motives matter. We often do things without even realizing why we’re doing them. Good and bad habits dictate many of our actions. It’s possible to even do good things with bad motives. This is a perfect example. Mark tells us from the beginning the “why.”
They came to him and said, “Teacher, we know that you are a man of integrity. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. (Mark 12:14a)
Notice they begin by buttering him up, praising him for his integrity. Their sarcasm—or anger in a clown suit!—is actually true. Jesus is a man of integrity. He wasn’t swayed by others. He taught the way of God in accordance with the truth. They were masquerading as genuine followers of Jesus and the truth, but they weren’t. Are you ready for the question?
Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not? Should we pay or shouldn’t we?” (Mark 12:14b-15a)
You have to admit it’s a good question! After all, the law of Moses written hundreds of years earlier which guided Jewish conduct knew nothing of Rome or Caesar or imperial taxes. It was a different era, much in the same way we face questions today which are not explicitly spelled out in the Bible.
Again, it’s a practical question, but it was asked with impure motives. I’m sure they were excited, placing Jesus in a no-win situation. Or so they thought!
But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. “Why are you trying to trap me?” he asked. “Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” (Mark 12:15b)
There are a lot of people who look, act, and sound impressive. They know the Bible. They go to church. They have the perfect family. Everyone knows about their generosity. But some simply know how to put on a show. The word for “hypocrite” is from the same root word as “actor.” Jesus knew their hearts…and he knows ours, too. One of my favorite verses in the Bible involves the selection of the next king of Israel.
But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” (1Samuel 16:7)
As I’ve said, these religious leaders were impressive. Their books were on the bestseller list. They had thousands of followers of social media. Their podcasts were hugely popular. Their tv shows had great ratings. But their hearts were wicked.
By the way, some things never change. Like many of you, I’ve been deeply disappointed seeing various Christian leaders fail over the years. They are impressive, but fail to finish the race well. Their charisma attracts great crowds, but their character is corrupt. The outside of the cup is shiny, but inside it’s filthy.
Jesus asks them for what we would call a penny. He may not have even had one himself. He had no credit cards!
They brought the coin, and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”
“Caesar’s,” they replied. (Mark 12:16)
If Jesus said give to Tiberius Caesar, the Roman emperor, that would imply Caesar was greater than Moses, and they would’ve accused him of idolatry. If he said don’t give to Caesar, the Roman authority would have great concern! That would be insurrection. One response would offend the Pharisees, the other the Herodians.
You may know the Jews were not allowed to make carved images, yet the Roman coin had Caesar’s image on it…along with writing that said in Latin, “Augustus Tiberius, son of the divine Augustus.” On the other side, it said, “High Priest.” This coin was more than just a way to buy goods and services. It was a statement of power the Jews found downright offensive.
Then Jesus said to them, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.”
God is sovereign and in control over all, including Caesar!
And they were amazed at him. (Mark 12:17)
I’m sure they were also very disappointed for their trap failed. They were flooded in divine wisdom regarding stewardship, but found no evidence to support their quest to end his life.
Jesus is amazing! Jesus’ teachings are amazing. His life and death and resurrection are amazing. His prayers and intercession for us now are amazing. His return will be amazing. Best of all, spending eternity with Jesus will be amazing!
So What?
- We have a responsibility to government.
Paul wrote to the church in Rome:
Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. (Romans 13:1)
Obviously there have been times throughout history when a choice must be made between following Jesus and following the government. Our first allegiance must be to God, but He has created three institutions for human flourishing: the family, the Church, and government. As much as we criticize government, we would be far worse without a defense, schools, roads, and other services they provide. I rarely hear people say their taxes are too low, but they are needed to fund the government.
Jesus said to give to Caesar—or the government—what belongs to Caesar.
Columbus takes 7% of nearly everything we buy. Lucas County takes ¼% of our purchases. Washington DC takes…too much!
But the message is about more than money. It may include obeying laws, including speed limits! We may have a responsibility to the government to apply for the draft when such a thing is required. We give our time to the government and to one another when we vote. Good citizens can do many things to partner with and serve the government for the sake of the community.
One of the challenges in our culture is hyper individualism. The attitude of many is it’s all about them. We’ve even brought this into the church, saying Christianity is all about me and my personal relationship with Jesus. A personal relationship with Jesus is incredibly important, but we were created for community. Following Christ is a team sport. That’s why we have the Church.
- We have a responsibility to the Church. We are to give. We are to serve. We are to love one another. We are to do life together. When it’s good, it’s really good! I admit when we get it wrong, it’s really ugly. In fact, the gossip, judging, condemnation, hypocrisy, and even hatred of so-called Christians has called many to end their pursuit of God. Few things break my heart more than hearing of people who have walked away from God because of a bad experience with the Church.
If you’ve been hurt by Christians—and we all have—I’m sorry. Please forgive me. Please forgive us. Saying we’re not perfect is no excuse, though it’s true! We all need Jesus. I sometimes wonder why God entrusted His Kingdom to broken ragamuffins like us instead of Jesus spending more than three years of ministry here on earth.
But we have responsibility to one another. I need you. You need me. None of us has all of the spiritual gifts. Give to the church what belongs to the church. Yes, that includes not only time but also talents and treasures. Now that we’re opening up more, I encourage you to get in a Life Group, serve on the Hospitality Team, join the Music or Tech Teams, …and support God’s work here and around the world with your finances.
Some religions have what are essentially dues in order to participate. We don’t sell tickets around here! But one of our newly adopted core values as a church which we’ll reveal in the coming months is generosity. God is generous. He gave us the most precious possible gift…His son Jesus. Jesus gave us his life. What more could he give? The Holy Spirit fills the planet in every follower of Jesus.
Again, the message from today’s text is more than just money, but it certainly includes money. In a few weeks we’ll look at Jesus’ teaching on investing in God’s Kingdom.
I’ve had people over the years ask me if tithing is a command for us today. Tithe literally means ten percent and it was prescribed in Old Testament worship, not only of cash but crops. Paul wrote to the church in Corinth:
Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7)
We are a generous church. We have people that give dozens of volunteer hours each month. We have people generously sharing their talents and expertise. We have people who use their wealth to give extravagantly to bless our community.
I think ten percent is a good starting point for generosity, but it is by no means the max. Honestly, I can’t think of a better investment of finances than First Alliance Church and its work in Jerusalem, Judea & Samaria, and the ends of the earth through our Home Missions, Faith Missions, and Great Commission Fund partners. I love investing here!
By the way, in addition to giving cash online or in person, we can accept other assets and potentially save you substantial money on your taxes. If you have stocks, bonds, real estate, cattle, a business, or most any asset, we have the means of receiving them and using them for God’s glory.
As I said, the government, church, and family are the three institutions God created.
- We have a responsibility to our family. Parents, train your children in the way they should go (Proverbs 22:6). Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus:
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise—“so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” (Ephesians 6:1-3)
Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4)
Spouses,
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. (Ephesians 5:21)
Ultimately all of our responsibility to government, church, and family can be summarized in one command we’ll look at in two weeks:
The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:31)
I realize that verse is missing a bit of context…and it relates to our greatest responsibility…our responsibility to God.
Everything is created by God, for God, and for God’s glory.
If we are to properly give to Caesar’s, what do we give to God? When asked which of the commandments is the greatest…
“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ (Mark 12:29-30)
Did you catch Jesus quoting the shema? The Lord is one. We worship one God. How do we worship Him? With everything! All of our heart. All of our soul. All of our mind. All of our strength.
One hundred percent of our time, talents, and treasures belong to God. They’re on loan. We must be good stewards of what’s He’s entrusted to us.
How do your finances bring God glory?
How does your calendar bring God glory?
How does your physical body bring God glory?
How does your mind bring God glory?
What do I need to submit to God? Where is Jesus not LORD in my life?
Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar…and give to God what belongs to God…which is everything…including Caesar!
One more thing
You might think God is awfully demanding. You mean I have to give up everything to follow Jesus? Yes! You mean I have to die to myself and my desires and passions to serve God? Yes!
“Why would I give up everything for God?” Because He gave up everything for you. He loves you. He knows you. He created you. He knows your name. He wants nothing but the very best for you, even when it doesn’t feel good, even when the storms come, even when it’s not popular or politically-correct. God’s ways are perfect and so much higher than ours. He can be trusted.
We can do life our way. We can hoard our money. We can cheat on our taxes. We can rob God. We can be selfish with our talents and time. But disobeying God harms us more than anyone else. Eventually we’ll discover we don’t have all of the answers. We really need God. We need love.
I want to encourage you…you are loved, you are known, God is here, and He wants everything from you…and He wants to be your everything.
You can listen to this message and others at the First Alliance Church podcast here.
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