2008-03-16 Sermon Title: Give God what is right and not what is left
Tue, 05/06/2008 - 17:20 — hpcbc
Sermon 3/16/08
Sermon Title: Give God what is right and not what is left
講道題目：將當獻的奉與耶和華
Sermon Text: Matthew 22:21
講道經文：馬太福二十二章二十一節
Scripture Reading: Romans 12:1-2
讀經：羅馬書十二章一至二節
I am always amazed at the wisdom of Jesus at tight situations. In Matthew 22:15-22 there is a story about the Pharisees went out with a plan to trap Jesus in his words. In this occasion the Pharisees did an uncharacteristic thing of recruiting the help of the Herodians. The Pharisees were nationalists and ardently opposed to Roman rule. The Herodians, on the other hand, was a political group that supported the Roman rule of the Herods. Herod was not a Jew, he was an Idumeans. The Idumeans were originally from Edom, the descendents of Esau the brother of Jacob. The Herodians supported the Herod Government for the security of Roman protection. To their thinking it was better under Herod the Idumean than under complete gentile rule. The disciples of the Pharisees first flattered Jesus, “Teacher, we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are.” After that they asked, “Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right (or lawful inKJV) to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” After the initial flattery their question seemed to be sincere. Is it right or lawful to pay taxes to Caesar? It certainly was right and lawful according to Caesar, but was it lawful according to theLaw of Moses? A negative answer would offend the Herodians who would probably report Jesus to the Roman authority for treason. A positive answer would provoke the Pharisees to accuse him as traitor to the Jews. Jesus, knowing their evil intend, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying tax.” Looking at a denarius he asked them, “Whose portrait is this? And whose Inscription?” They replied, “Caesar’s.” Them Jesus said to them, “Then render to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” The word render (apodidōmi) carries the meaning of ‘pay what is due’. Citizens have the obligation to pay their dues to the State because they obtain benefits from the government. The Jews had to pay their dues to even non-Jew rulers. Paul also exalted Christians to submit to the governing authorities because even the pagan civil rulers were established by God. (Ecclesiastes 8:2; Romans 13:1) Jesus did not encourage them to renounce their obligation to Caesar; but Caesar had no right in God’s domain. Caesar had no right to prevent God’s people from giving to God what is rightfully His. Christians have obligations to civil obedience; but when those civil duties cross the line to God’s domain, they have to obey the higher authority.
Have you ever been called ‘hypocrites’? I have been called many times. Did you ever feel that you are a ‘hypocrites’? I felt that way many times also. God blesses us with a lot of things in life; the days of our life, our wealth, our talents are all gifts from God. We seldom honor God by rendering to him the things that are rightfully His. In a few occasions, but not very often, I received tax refunds. The first thing I thought of was not tithing but to pay off a bill or to buy the thing I always wanted but had no money to buy. There is a story about a small boy in a small country church. He
greeted his pastor after the church service, “Pastor, we were going to bring you a chicken for dinner, but the chicken got well!” Sometime we give to God with the same kind of attitude: what is left but not what is right. We do not want to owe any one any favor because we know someday we have to repay that favor. There is an old hymn that says “Alas, and did my Savior bleed, and did my Sovereign die? Would He devote that sacred head, for sinners such as I? Was it for crime that I had done, He groaned upon the tree? Amazing pity, grace unknown, and Love beyond degree! But drops of grief can ne’er repay, the debt of love I owe; Here, Lord, I give myself away, ’tis all that I can do.” (Baptist hymnal p.157, 1975 edition) I love this song. I do not know how many times I have sung this song; but whenever I sang it, I meant it every time. But there were times when I was busy and tire, I excused myself from going to church, prayer meetings, or fellowship meetings. There were times I refused to serve God or go visitation because of inconvenience. Paul said, “Therefore I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your reasonable service (or spiritual act of worship).” (Romans 12:1) Paul said I‘urge’. Who am I to be presumptuous in teaching you or commanding you to serve God? I know too well not to be self-righteous because I had failed God times after times. Like Paul I can only urge you to offer to God what is rightfully His. The motivation for our giving is that we have received so bountifully from God. The offering of our time, our money, and our talents is not paying God back; that is impossible. Our giving begins in gratitude. There is a story about a little boy listening to the pastor’s appeal for offering. When the offering plate was passed, he wrote on the pledge card, “Dear God, I love you, do you love me? Answer ‘yes’!” and dropped it in the plate. Our giving will certainly be commensurate with our love.
One summer day a farmer sat in front of his shack smoking his pipe. Along came a stranger, who asked,
“How’s your cotton coming?”
“Ain’t got none,” was the answer, “Didn’t plant none. ‘Fraid of the boll weevil.”
“Well, how’s your corn?”
“Didn’t plant none. ‘Fraid o’ drought.”
“How about your potatoes?”
“Ain’t got none. Scairt o’ tater bugs.”
“Well,” finally asked the stranger, “What did you plant?”
“Nothin’,” answered the farmer, “I just played it safe.”
When we plant none, we will receive none. If a church does not do much planting, it will not expect any harvest. If we are so afraid of some programs will fail and stop planning; then sure enough we will not receive any blessing. Let us get busy planting; sowing the seeds before summer comes. Planting seed does need the investment of a lot of our time, effort, and resources. If we love God’s kingdom, it is worth the investment.
One Sunday morning the pastor encouraged his congregation to consider the potential of the church. He told them, “With the help of God we can see the day when this church will go from crawling to walking.”
And the people responded, “Let the church walk, pastor; let the church walk.”
He continued, “And when the church begins to walk, next the church can begin to run.”
And the people shouted, “Let the church run, pastor; let the church run!”
The pastor continued, “And finally the church can move from running to flying. Oh, the church can fly! But of course it’s going to take a lot of money and effort for that to happen!”
The congregation grew quiet, and from the back someone mumbled, “Let the church walk, pastor; let the church walk.”
Jesus used two parables in Matthew 13 to tell us the kingdom of God is like treasure hidden in the field and like fine pearl; it is worth our investments of time, effort and money in order to gain it. Paul told the Corinthians, “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2Corinthians 9:6-7). This is the principle of giving that applies even to the Christian church today.
