In Romans 13 Paul teaches us that we owe a debt to the United States and to its government. “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.” Long before Paul wrote to the Christians in pagan Rome, the Lord Jesus implied that there is a greater society – a society of God – to which there are dues. A backslidden, selfish-hearted Christian might try to deny these things, but it’s a pretty tough challenge.
There are several implications which come from these two principles and these two scriptures – first, we learn that the realm of Caesar and the realm of Christ are totally different. Not only does I John 2 tell us about the evils of the world, it points out its essential character. “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” Then there is Colossians 3 – “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” Didn’t the Lord Jesus tell Pilate that He was a King, but that His kingdom was not of this world? Caesar and Pharaoh represent things on earth, earthly things, and often devilish things. Christ’s kingdom and the house of His Father are very, very different.
Yet, there is a sense in which Caesar’s realm lies within, or under, Christ’s realm. The Lord is sovereign and supreme, nothing stands or acts without His approbation. Romans 13:1 – “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God; the power that be are ordained of God. Whosoever, therefore, resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God. And they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.” Peter tells us that obedience to Caesar is actually an act of obedience towards the Lord. I Peter 2 – “Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.” God is not responsible for the sins of government, just as He isn’t responsible for our sins, but He is responsible for the existence of that government, just as He is the cause and source of our souls and our lives.
A third implication is that we, as Christians and citizens have obligations to both societies. Not to render unto Caesar is a crime against Caesar and a sin against God. And not to render unto God may actually please Caesar, but it is still a sin against the Lord.
The problem is determining the line between the kingdoms: what is God’s and what is Caesar’s? When a human government says that it is illegal to serve the Lord, then that law must be ignored for the sake of the higher, Divine law. When humanistic politicians try to define churches and church rights, they must be corrected. But then when pseudo-theologians advocate violence against the government, they must be denounced. When well-meaning Christians forget that they are not to be unequally yoked together with other conservative-minded, but lost, people, they need to be taught the scripture.
Just what are the dues that we owe and how should we pay them?
For example what is it that we own to CAESAR?
Before we answer, we must define some of our Lord’s words. “Caesar” refers to the emperor or king, or more generally to the leadership of our earthly government. We may not have a ruler called “king” or “caesar,” but this still applies to our society as well as Jesus’. We are talking about those who pass secular laws and who try to enforce those laws. And who was the Caesar of Jesus day? Was he a kind, generous, benevolent old gentleman, seeking to assist his people in their life, liberty and pursuit of happiness? Did he totally disown his own lusts and glory? You must be kidding. The “Caesar” of Jesus’ day was either one of the most wicked families ever to rule Israel – the Herods – or the Emperor of Rome. And who was the Caesar of Paul’s day? Augustus of Rome followed by Nero. It is possible that both Peter and Paul lost their lives at that man’s command. And yet Paul preached submission that to Caesar and to his wicked government when it came to secular matters.
What is the Christian supposed to render unto this Caesar? Prayer, first of all – I Timothy 2:1 – “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” This is actually quite curious. Despite the wickedness, philandering, and pandering of these people, we are to pray for them? Or is it because they are so wicked, we need to pray for them to save our own lives? Are we praying for them because they need the Lord, or is it because we might be crushed by them? They may think that they are little gods, but we know better. Romans 13:1 – “Let every soul be subject unto the HIGHER power, for there is no power, but of God.” Proverbs 21:1 – “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord.” Prayer to God for our government is a recognition that Jehovah sets up kings and removes them. It is worship due to the Lord, as well as respect due to that human government. And what is it about which we should pray? After the salvation of those leaders, we need to pray for quietness and peace – and thanksgiving if the Lord should grant them. There are a lot of nations where there isn’t freedom and peace. Why should we have them and they don’t in Iraq or Somalia? We should pray for the advancement of godliness or simple honesty. And we should add to that list: wisdom, justice, temperance and humility. The government of the United States is passing laws and making decisions today which will affect our grandchildren years from now. Those people need our prayers..
I Peter 2:17 tells us that we owe honour to the king. Have you ever wondered how many genuine friends that the president really has? I know that it would probably be impossible for the man in the White House and I to be friends. But does that relieve me of the debt that I owe to the office of the presidency? Again, I am reminded that the office is not his; it is God’s. As difficult as it is to understand, God has a purpose in that man, whether any of us like it or not. We owe to him the honor of that office, and to all the elected officials of our various governments.
And we also owe to them our submission. Again, we have I Peter. 2:13-14 – “Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; or unto governors.” You and I, as Christians, are obligated to obey the laws of the nation, the state, and our local government. Does the law say that we must pay taxes? Then that is what the Lord demands as well. Is the speed limit 70, 50 or 25? Do it. Is it a city ordinance not to raise Bengal Tigers in your back yard? Then don’t do it. Why? For the sake of the Lord Jesus Christ; His testimony and His glory. The world is looking for excuses to reject our Saviour. God help us not to give them any legitimate reason. Now if God commanded us to raise Tigers in our back yards, then no matter what the city might say, we have an obligation to comply with the Lord’s command. But where the Lord is silent, then the king is supreme.
So Christian, see to it that your relationship to the world is as clean as the Lord demands that it be. Romans 13:7 – “Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.” “Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar’s.”
But at the same time render unto GOD the things which be GOD’S.
The things which be God’s could lead to a year long series of sermons. This puts the preacher into a pickle jar with a hungry pickle eater holding a long-handled fork. What do I mention, preach and exhort, and what things do I table for the time being?
How about time? Your time is not your own, pay your dues to the Lord. Do you realize how much time the Bible spends talking about time? I have read that there are 3,626 references to time in the Bible, although I haven’t counted them personally. What does the Bible mean about “redeeming the time?“ It is talking about buying back time, or utilizing it properly. God asks so little of us. This is the Lord’s day, His day of the week, and even many governments recognize that. The meaning of this is that unless you are providentially hindered, you are obligated to give honor to the Lord on this first day of the week. We owe the Lord time for prayer and Bible study during the week. The command of Scripture is to render unto God the things that are His.
Another debt to the Lord is fruit. I won’t even attempt to add up the scriptures which deal with this subject. Do you suppose that our Heavenly Mediator, like Paul, is praying for us? “For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work.” “This I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.”
Of course, I can’t pass over the subject of tithes and offerings. Usually when we think of dues, we are thinking about money. Unlike, many churches, here is a theme that we don’t preach often enough, but that might be sin on my part. To whom does your money belong? You may think that it is yours – but Christ in this scripture says that you are wrong. You and I are nothing but stewards of the Lord’s property, and that includes His money in our pockets. What does the Lord ask of us in this regard? It is less than the property management company asks of the man who owns the house they manage. And it is less than the athlete’s agent. And it is less than what the movie star has to pay his booking agent. The Lord merely asks for a tenth – a tithe. And it isn’t because the Lord has a lot of over head in taking care of this creation. It isn’t because the Lord’s family has expensive needs that He commands ten percent from us. He Lord asks of us because our souls need that spiritual exercise. “Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” “Render unto God the things that Be God’s.” Is the Lord’s tithe in your pocket and burning a hole in your spirit today?
One other thing that we cannot neglect. Ezekiel 18:4 makes a solemn declaration: “Behold, all souls are mine.” Do any of us think that our souls are ours to do with as we please? “Why, yes it is. God has given to me a free will: I can trust Christ, or I can trust my sin. I can live holy if I want or I can live wholly evilly. The choice is mine.” If that is true, then the Psalmist was a wrong when he said: “No man can keep alive his own soul.” Only God can keep alive the soul, and this proves His supremacy and sovereignty over all things – including over you. But let’s go on to quote the rest of Ezekiel 18:4 – “Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.” If you live without Christ and die, your soul shall be cast into the lake of fire. For 40, or 60, or 95 years you may live on earth atheistically feasting and partying, like the King’s subjects here in this parable. And by that very life you are increasing your debt toward God, because He has been financing your every bite and breath and heart beat. But one day He will require you to pay-up. And at death it will be too late. Fortunately, the Lord will take pre-payments without penalty, and payment can be made in full – vicariously. The Saviour, Jesus Christ, has the payment in His hand. All that He asks is your submission to Him in repentance and faith.
Render to God His due today – all His due. “Kiss the Son lest he be angry and ye perish from the way, while his anger is kindled but a little.” Generally speaking when we don’t pay our dues, we will be expelled from that society. That is not a very pretty thought when we are thinking of the society of the Lord.