They answered, “The emperor’s.” Then he said to them, “Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
(Matthew 22.21 NRSV)
If we say to our husband or wife or sweetheart, "I love you with all my heart," we are saying, "I am committed to you. All that I have is yours. I trust you enough that I am willing to share with you everything I have, everything I am, and everything I hope to be." That kind of commitment is what God asks as well. For truly it's all His in the first place. Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's. Render unto God the things that are God's.

There is a silly story going around that makes a powerful point about where many of us are right now. According to the story, Pope John Paul II was needing a heart transplant. There was much concern throughout the Roman Catholic world. Everyone gathered outside of the Vatican screaming and waving their hands. "Take my heart, Pope, take my heart!"

Well, the Pope didn't know what to do, so an idea popped into his head. He asked everyone to please be quiet for a few minutes and he told all of them that he was going to throw down a feather. Whoever the feather landed on, he would take their heart for the transplant. Pope John Paul II then threw the feather down upon the people. Everyone was still screaming and waving their hands, "Take my heart, Pope," but with one difference: they were leaning their heads back and blowing the feather back into the air. "Take my heart, Pope (blow), Take my heart (blow)."

I suspect that is where many of us are. We are willing to give a few tokens to God. But our hearts?

Dear God, help me to give more of my heart to you with each passing day. Amen.

Ron Newhouse

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