The Things That are Caesar's

"And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's" (Mark 12: 17). 

The above statement has a broader and deeper significance than is usually seen by the hasty reader. Where Jesus here directly referred to the Emperor and the Roman government, He also referred in a broader sense to the world at large. Hence "Caear" here stands for and represents the whole unconverted world. Therefore, in this light we wish to briefly treat the subject. These are days when, if the above command were heeded and put into practice, there would be a great rebuilding of Christian influence and restoring of confidence in the religion of the Bible. Where the church has been greatly disgraced and put to shame by backsliders, on one hand, it has suffered a similar loss, on the other, from the conduct and statements of extremists, religious cranks, and fanatics who ignored "the powers that be." And owing to this state of affairs, religion and holiness is brought into disrepute almost everywhere.

Now in the following lines I shall endeavor to briefly mention what the duty of a Christian is to the unconverted world. We must ever remember that the Bible in no place gives us license to intrude upon the rights of others, even though they may not be Christians. What saith the scripture on this point "Therefore, all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you-, do ye even so to them" (Matt. 7:12).

Let us see what our duty is respecting the law of the land. It is the duty of a Christian to obey every command of the law of the land that does not conflict with the law of God (Acts 5:29; 1 Pet. 2:13, 14). It is also a part of his duty, as a child of God, to pray daily for all men who are in authority. Paul wrote to Timothy as follows: "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 Savior; who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth" (1 Tim. 2:1-4).

Second; the duty of the Christian to his unsaved neighbor is, that we, as Christians, owe our neighbor the "Golden Rule," i. e., we are not to do anything to him that we would not like to receive in return. We are not to say anything about him that we would not like said about us. We are not to think anything about him that we would not like others to think about us. We are also to render him the same amount of assistance, when in a hard place, that we would like rendered to us in similar circumstances.

Third, the duty of the Christian to his employer is to give him the same careful, prompt, obedient service in his daily occupation that he renders to the Lord on Sunday in his prayers. What saith the scripture at this point "Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eye-service, as menpleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing God; and whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not unto men" (Col. 3: 22, 23). Therefore, this puts an end forever to all saucy, sarcastic, sharp back-talk.

Fourth, the duty of the Christian to his employee is that he is to treat him with the same kindness, thoughtfulness, love, and patience that he would render to the Lord Jesus Christ if he had Him employed. "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these, my brethren, ye have done it unto me" (Matt. 25: 40). If this was adhered to, it would forever put a stop to the unfairness and cruelty which the laboring man meets from his employer.

Fifth, the duty of a Christian to his unsaved family is that he should carefully and constantly (as far as possible) fulfill all of his duties and responsibilities as a husband, father, and example. (The Christian wife is to do likewise.) He is to promptly, openly, frankly, and humbly acknowledge any fault, and also freely ask his family to forgive him for any unmerited reproof or mistreatment that he may thoughtlessly or hastily give. He is never to allow his conversation or conduct at home to contradict his testimony which he gives at church on Sunday.