DO NOT GIVE TO POLITICIANS WHAT BELONGS TO GOD

On one occasion, Jesus was asked about the legality of paying taxes to the Roman Empire. His opponents sought to trap Him: if He said paying taxes was right, He would be accused of supporting an oppressive regime; if He said it was wrong, He would be labeled an enemy of the empire.

The flaw in their thinking was assuming these were the only two options. But Jesus responded in a way that transcended their political trap:

“Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

Behind this response lies a much deeper principle, one that Jesus applied specifically to taxes at that moment. The apostle Paul makes this principle even clearer in Romans 13: “Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.” When we view government (temporal powers) through this lens, we give politics and politicians their proper value and importance.

I see many Christians giving to the government what should belong only to God. Our hope and confidence for the future should rest and be directed to God, not in a politician or a government plan. Our joy should be in what Christ has already accomplished for us, not in an electoral victory. Our trust and peace should come from knowing that Christ reigns, not from who sits in the prime minister’s office.

The hearts of Trudeau, Singh, Carney, Poilievre and all others are in God’s hands, and He turns them wherever He wills. God is sovereign over their lives, and nothing will escape the will of the supreme King! Place your faith and hope in the true ruler of this nation, and give the government only what is due.

“The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.” (Proverbs 21:1)

Nino Marques