Some people once tried to cause trouble for Jesus by asking him, “Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay or shouldn’t we?” Jesus knew that they were trying to trap him in his words. He asked them to bring him a coin. Then he asked, “Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?” They told him that it was Caesar’s. Then Jesus gave them this famous answer, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” (Mark 12:13-17).

We often think of these words of Jesus at tax time, when we (grudgingly?) prepare to give the government its due. But perhaps we fail to reflect on the second part of his quote, a teaching which is much more important. Here Jesus says that we should also give God what is due to him.

The image of Caesar was stamped on the coin that Jesus held in his hand. In much the same way, the likeness of God is stamped on us. We are created in his image (Gen.1:27). Therefore, we owe it to God to give him what rightfully belongs to him—ourselves.