When
you toss up a coin, it is either head or tail. It has never been
heads or tails alone on the two sides. The head usually represented
the symbol of a prominent person in the nation and the tail
represented the varied symbols of geopolitical emblems of a certain
state or geographical symbol of certain part of the nation. One
certainty about every coin is the unitary value and the consistency
of the symbol of head. The quarters, dimes and nickel of United
States of America confirm these consistencies. On all the quarters
minted in United States of America, you will find the head of George
Washington on it as well as a quotation, “In God we trust.”
Furthermore, no coin has head only without the symbol of the tail
imprinted on the other side. This reveals the importance of the two
sides. Be it a silver coin or a gold coin, the full identification
of a legal tender of a coin lies on the strength of economy of the
nation the symbol of the head and the tail embossed or imprinted on
the coin.
The
Pharisees confronted Jesus Christ and asked, “Is it right for them
to pay taxes?” The Ancient of Days did not reply them with, “Yes,”
or “No,” out rightly but He demonstrated an illustration before His
answer. He asked one of his disciples to cast the fishing hook into
the water. Please note: He did not say, “Dip your hand in the pocket
and give me a coin there.” The casting of the fishing hook into the
water is the demonstration of effort that every one of us are making
to sustain ourselves. A fish was caught. The fish was the reward of
the effort of the person that cast the fish hook into the water.
Just like the way we worked for a company and were adequately
remunerated. He commanded that the mouth of the fish be opened and a
piece of coin was found in it. He showed it to the Pharisees, and
asked, “Whose image is this?” They responded in unison, “The image
of Caesar.” Then He told the Pharisees, “Pay unto Caesar what is
Caesar’s and pay unto to the Lord what is the Lord’s.” We all know
that Jesus Christ was telling the Pharisees that since they labor
and remunerated in the kingdom of Caesar they need to pay taxes to
the Caesar according to the law of the king but He did not explain
to them what exactly is due to the Lord that we need to ensure
payment is effected. Obviously, it is not taxes of any nation’s
monetary unit.
You
may say you do not have any business with Caesar because you are not
dwelling in the territory of Romans Empire but you are dwelling and
operation in the kingdom of Uncle Sam. It is the law of Uncle Sam to
pay what is due to the States. Funny enough Uncle Sam never wait for
you to pay him, he deduct whatever is due to him before your
organization gives you the remaining change that we called salary.
Seriously speaking, your job and the remuneration thereof and
whatever you can purchase with the sweat of your labor is your
responsibility in the Uncle Sam territory.
The
earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof. Jesus Christ is not
asking for taxes like Uncle Sam but He is demanding that we must
have a relationship with God from whom all blessing flows. He is
demanding for a right standing with God in holiness and
righteousness. He is demanding for a healthy and peaceful
relationship with each other. These were the primary reasons why He
left His glory in Heaven and dwell among men in order to inculcate
the way of Heaven to humanity. He shed His blood on the Cross of
Calvary in order to pave way for mankind to have direct to the
throne of Grace in the Presence of Abba. He called us into the
banquet of His love that we may partake in the finished work of the
Cross. Even in our own time, He is still beckoning to us to come.
“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the water, and you who have
no money come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money
and without cost.” (Isaiah 55:1)
It
is the intention of God that man may live a fullness of life. There
is no doubt that our secular activity on earth is like one side of
the coin but our spiritual life will complement it in order to have
fullness of life. “Abide in me and I in you. As the branch cannot
bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye,
except ye abide in me.” (John 15:4) There is no fullness of life
outside the relationship with Jesus Christ. This is why the secular
and spiritual aspect of your life must be balanced.
This
is the season of tax filing in America. As you are filing your taxes
in order to fulfill the required law of United States of America,
remember the importance of your relationship with God in the New
Year. If you are already in relationship with God, to God be the
glory. Seek to know Him more and more. If you have not established a
relationship with your Creator, knock at the door of His mercy.
Diligently seek to know Him. He will not reject you. Place priority
on this issue because tomorrow may be too late.
Michael A. Eleyinafe
