From the archives of Oral Roberts – First of three parts
Matthew 22:15˗22 tells about an occasion when Jesus was questioned about the money that bore the name of Caesar. Caesar was the emperor of Rome, an empire that covered the world. Trying to trap Jesus, the Pharisees asked Him, “Is it proper to pay taxes to Caesar?” Jesus replied, “Whose image or superscription is imprinted on this piece of money?” They answered, “Caesar’s.” Then He said to them. “Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s: and unto God the things that are God’s” (v. 21).
Here are three major points for Christian prosperity:
The first is, Jesus says, “Get a balance between the heavenly world and this world, and recognize that as a Christian, you’re a citizen not only of this world but of the world up above.” Not only are you a citizen of the world above, you’re a citizen of your government. There are laws in the land, and there are taxes to be collected. Those taxes are raised to run the country. That is what we pay in order to live in this nation. No matter how tired we get of paying them, we live in this nation and therefore, when the taxes are due, we have to pay them. Christ said, “Render unto the world the money which belongs to them. Give to the governments of the earth what you owe them. But then render unto God the things that belong to Him.”
You can’t be so heavenly minded that you’re no earthly good. And you can’t be so earthly minded that you have no thought of heaven, because you live in both worlds.
In your spirit, you’re living in the kingdom of heaven. But in your body, walking about on this earth, you’re living in Caesar’s empire, the government of the world that he represents. So Christ says, “Render to God and to Caesar what belongs to both.”
