Render to God

Apr 11 2025 - Eric Buresh

And Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.’ And they marveled at Him.” 

— Mark 12:17 (NKJV) 

I rarely talk/write about politics and that isn’t going to change today. However, from time to time, I do have my own feelings about actions our authorities are taking. And, from time to time, those feelings erode the peace that I have been promised in Christ. When that happens, I confess my lack of trust, and I look to Scriptures to remind me of the truth that our sovereign God has it all under control. 

Doing that recently, I came to Mark 12:17 and the Spirit paused what I was intending to study because He wanted to teach me from this verse. The first half of the verse was where I intended to focus. There, our Lord acknowledges that there are rightful obligations toward human government. “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s.” The coin bore Caesar’s image, and it is right to honor those whom God has placed in authority. Paul affirms this in Romans 13:1, saying, “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God." 

But the Holy Spirit quickly focused my attention on the weightier matter: “Render to God the things that are God’s.” What things are God’s? The coin bore the image of Caesar, but what bears the image of God? We do! “God created man in His own image” (Genesis 1:27). You belong to Him! Your life, your breath, your soul—these are stamped with the divine image, and to God they should be rendered. 

There are many who are scrupulous in giving to Caesar but negligent in giving to God! They pay their taxes but withhold their hearts. They honor earthly contracts but break the faith covenant of their Maker. They fear the magistrate but do not fear the Lord. They fill the treasury of the nation but let the house of God lie in waste. If you give to Caesar the coin that bears his image, should you not give to God the life that bears His? 

How are we to render to God what is His? 

• By giving Him our hearts in faith and dependence.  He made us, and He alone deserves our devotion. 
• By worshiping Him in spirit and truth. We were created to glorify Him, yet many live as if He does not exist. Render Him your praise, your attention, your trust, your love. 
• By yielding our bodies as living sacrifices. “Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12:1, NKJV). Every faculty, every talent, every breath belongs to Him. Follow Him dependently in faith and He will use them all for His glory. 
• By using all He has given us in His service. Wealth, time, influence—these are not ours but His. Shall we pile them up for ourselves when He gave them to us to be rendered for His kingdom? 

My takeaway from this passage: The image of Caesar is on the coin, but the image of God is upon you. You are not your own, for you were bought at a price. Render to God the things that are God’s!