When We Don't Give God Our All

When we aren't giving God our all, we abdicate our human responsibility and leave our lives open to the use and abuse of almost anyone else.  Plus, we become jerks.

Look at what happens to some random guys in Luke 20 who failed to give God their all. (Oh, how do we know they weren't giving God their all? Jesus tells them in verse 25, we'll get there).

First, they become tools of the religious leaders.  Notice how they were "sent" and nameless.  Faceless drones carrying out the whims of religious hypocrites.
Luke 20:19–20 (ESV) 19 The scribes and the chief priests sought to lay hands on him at that very hour, for they perceived that he had told this parable against them, but they feared the people. 20 So they watched him and sent spies, who pretended to be sincere, that they might catch him in something he said, so as to deliver him up to the authority and jurisdiction of the governor.

Second, we act differently than we really are!  Notice the words, they "pretended to be sincere". These guys are total fakes. Putting on a religious show to serve other people!

Third, we go on the attack with other people.  They are trying to trap the Lord of lords!  So ridiculous. But this is what happens when we don't love God... inevitably, it plays out in anti-human action. For God LOVES people.

Fourth, we make small things big things! "is it lawful for us to give tribute to Caesar or not?" They decide to strike up a debate about taxes. They want to trap Jesus and they decide to use such a small issue!  Majoring on minors in your life is a sure fire sign that spiritual drift is occurring.

Jesus sets them straight faster than they can hand him a coin!

"Show me a denarius. Whose likeness and inscription does it have?" They said, "Caesar's." He said to them, "Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." (Luke 20:24, 25 ESV)

They know from the Scriptures that humans bear the image of God. If their hearts were laid bare, their distance from God's will for them would be made clear.  They were far from giving God their all, and so they became the tool of others to try and destroy someone else majoring on small issues.

Lord, keep your Church from being so misled.

PRAYER:
Father, I am made in Your image. Help me give you my all in everything I do. Parenting, being a husband and friend. I ask for your Spirit to guide my mind with every decision... That I may make the choice that yields all of me to all of you.  Amen.