By Ann
Mainse
Okay, I admit it. I'm a quote collector. Years ago I started collecting memorable
quotes in the back of my Bible. When
those pages filled up, I taped in several blank pieces of paper. Soon those were full so I resorted to sticky
notes on my bulletin board. Yep. It's true.
I'm a collector.
They come in all shapes
and sizes. Encouraging words. Life affirming quotes. Nuggets of wisdom you just have to pass onto
those you care about. And then there are
those quotes that, well, they just make you laugh. Here are some favorites shared from my
friend, Christian comedian, Joanne Goodwin…
Collectable
quotes. Whether silly and trivial or
deep and profound, sometimes you just want to remember what people say. And although they didn't know it, there were
some people in the book of Luke who were about to hear words of wisdom from Jesus
that were absolutely worth collecting.
Even though many were
enthralled with this miracle-working Teacher, Jesus did have enemies. Those who
resented Him. They were the religious leaders of their time and Jesus' public
insight into their deceitful hearts definitely ruffled their well-manicured
feathers. And they were mad. So they made a plan.
"… the leaders sent spies pretending to be honest men. They
tried to get Jesus to say something that could be reported to the Roman
governor so he would arrest Jesus. "Teacher," they said, "we
know that You speak and teach what is right and are not influenced by what
others think. You teach the way of God truthfully. Now tell us—is it right for
us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" Luke 20:20-22
Taxes. Just like today, that one topic made men's
blood boil. The taxes paid to the Roman government were numerous and
astronomical. Everyone hated taxes. So you can imagine the collective gasp and
subsequent silence that would've followed this spring-loaded query.
For
Jesus to answer yes would imply that He
was saying Caesar, not God, is the supreme authority. But to answer no (not to pay taxes) would have put Jesus in trouble with the
government. What would He do? He asked
for a coin. After establishing that
because Caesar's name and title are on the coin (signifying origin and
ownership), it should go to Caesar, Jesus then went one step further (Here
comes the collectible quote)…
"But
everything that belongs to God must be given to God.'' Luke 20:25
Hmmm…
I know what you're thinking. While this
statement is definitely true, exactly what is it that makes it
"collectible"? Good question. Let's think about it…
Yes,
God made everything there is and so owns
everything there is. But according to
Jesus, it doesn't stop there. Being made
by God… belonging to Him… isn't
enough. It must be given to
Him. And so it is with us.
Never
One to violate free will, God patiently waits on us. For some, the time is short. For others, God waits a lifetime. But the truth remains that God is waiting for
us to give ourselves to Him.
Yes,
God made us. And of course, He loves
us. But He will never have us unless we say so.
But everything that belongs to God must be given to God.
Now that's something worth writing down.