Do you think things are unfair? Do you hate paying taxes? Are you frustrated with high prices? Have you complained about it? Have you asked God, “why”? Have asked God for relief? Does it seem like God is not answering? Has that caused you to complain more and pray harder?
Jesus was confronted by messengers from the Pharisees about paying Roman taxes. Imagine being a conquered nation and being forced to pay taxes to the government that conquered you and is ruling over you. Talk about frustration. It would have been through the roof.
Jesus knew they were testing Him. They were attempting to trap Him. If He told them they did not need to pay the taxes, they could haul Him in for revolting against Rome. If He told them to pay the taxes, they could accuse Him of worshiping Caesar rather than God. Jesus did neither. He first asked whose image was on the coin, then told them to give to Caesar what was Caesar’s and to God what was God’s. They were amazed.
That message is still valid for us today. Rather than praying that God eliminate taxes or reduce the cost of groceries, we should be praying that God work in people’s lives. Pray that God guide our leaders who are making decisions that impact our lives. Pray that God will guide us in every decision we make. Pray that God will show us the work he has for us to do and give us the wherewithal to accomplish it. This is praying within God’s will rather than merely complaining.
I pray we all realize our complaining accomplishes nothing. I pray we choose to pray for God to be active in our world. I pray each one of us will ask God to guide us in our daily lives and decisions. Stop complaining. Ask God to work in the world. Ask God to guide you. Follow God’s guidance.
Matthew 22:21 Then he said to them, “Give therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s.”
