"…Should we pay them or should we not?" But knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, "Why are you putting me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me see it." And they brought one. Then he said to them, "Whose head is this, and whose title?" They answered, "The emperor’s." Jesus said to them, "Give to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s." And they were utterly amazed at him.

Mark 12:15-17

One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, "Which commandment is the first of all?" Jesus answered, "The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, The Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these."

Mark 12:28-31

Both money and time are important commodities to us. We trade our valuable time for money, and then we spend our money to make the most of our time off. We seldom possess the two with any degree of balance. Our Lord never seemed perplexed by time or money. He told us to render taxes and to take time with Him. With great demands on His time, Jesus spent early mornings and late evenings in prayer, seeking to know and do His Father’s will.

Spend time and money wisely – they both belong to God.

Our Daily Bread – March 9, 2004