by[14] “When they had come, they said to Him, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and care about no one; for You do not regard the person of men, but teach the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? [15] Shall we pay, or shall we not pay?” But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, “Why do you test Me? Bring Me a denarius that I may see it.” [16] So they brought it. And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” [17] And Jesus answered and said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they marveled at Him.” – Mark 12:14-17 (NKJV)
There is nowhere in scripture that states that money is evil. It is in 1 Timothy 6:10 that the Bible cautions us that the love of money is evil. So, money isn’t a problem, but the heart and intentions behind it ought to be considered. In Mark 12:14-17, Jesus taught us how to use money wisely but not love it after He answered a question about paying taxes. Back then, the Roman Empire, led by King Caesar, ruled Israel, so all the taxes were paid to him.
When Jesus was asked about taxes, He said, “… Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Mark 12:17). From this, it is pretty clear that no believer should hide behind the name of God to evade taxes, whether in business or not. No matter what country you’re in, you must obey the tax laws regardless of your situation. Understanding this before getting into business will save you a ton of good and peace with government institutions. It’ll actually be a disgrace for a Christian to be dragged to court over unpaid taxes. What will other believers with weak faith say?
Don’t over-spiritize money and the simple principles guiding its use and management. For example, it is pointless to pray to God for a harvest if you haven’t sown any seeds. Why? Because it is written in scripture that as long as the Earth remains, seedtime and harvest will never cease (see Genesis 8:22). Dear one, be decent with how you use money. Pay the price to gain financial wisdom, especially from the Bible and Christian business people, and be conscious of your integrity before the Lord.
You are a blessing.
Prayer:
Father, thank You for Your provision in my life. Help me to use money wisely for the fulfilment of destiny and not develop any love or craving towards it. In the name of Jesus. Amen!
Devotional Code: KGD – 2026 – 039
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