Every culture in the world understands their civil responsibility to those in higher authority. What has escaped most people—even many Christians, is that the HIGHEST authority is the Creator and Owner of all things. That is why Jesus Christ told us to do both: give to "Caesar" what belonged to him and to God what belonged to Him.

May our gracious Lord minister this bondage-breaking truth to your heart and mine.

"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

God provides the resources, we are to "manage" His wealth.

Jesus gave us two illustrations that tell us how He judges His "servants" from the eternal perspective.

A "pound" is issued equally to the Lord's servants (Luke 19:11-27).

Having just come through the time of year when, more than ever, we have received a barrage of information on how to give more and have it cost us less, we could do well to review what the Scriptures teach on the topic.

Giving, we will remember, is the responsible privilege of all who acknowledge Christ as Savior. Scripture indicates that giving is to be: