Sunday, October 16, 2005 Readings: Isaiah 45:1-7; Psalm 96:1-9; 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10; Matthew 22:15-22.   The Rev. Dr. Hilary B. Smith What is God's? The Pharisees sought to entrap Jesus. They thought that they could force Jesus into a corner. In that corner, they thought that Jesus would be forced to alienate himself from one group or another. "Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?" To say that it was right to pay the tax would upset the Jewish people. The tax could be paid only with a Roman coin that had the inscription "Tiberius Caesar, august son of the divine Augustus, high priest." To the Jews such a claim was blasphemy; God alone is divine. But if Jesus were to say not to pay the tax, the Roman authorities could arrest him. The story presents Jesus as one who could not be entrapped-rather than being forced into a corner, Jesus opens up the question for the Pharisees and for us-the question about loyalties and money. So often people want a yes or a no-they want the easy answer. Jesus invites us to consider the complexity of the questions and the complex nature of our hearts. Jesus spoke about money many times as recorded in the New Testament. And yet, this is a topic many Christians do not like to discuss in Church. To not discuss money in Church is to miss an important opportunity for spiritual growth. As Jesus shows the Pharisees in today's reading, issues of money provide an opportunity to think about our relationship to God. Who are we as people of faith who live in a society that uses money? Jesus took the focus off the particular question and invited the larger question. "Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor's, and to God the things that are God's." What are the things of God? As creator of heaven and earth, all things are God's. Jesus maintained that it was lawful for the Jewish people to pay the tax, while always being aware that their ultimate loyalty was to their God. Give to God the things that are God's. Our faith teaches us that all things are God's, and it is within that reality that we apportion our resources. Last year around this time, I was talking with a wonderful Christian who gives of his time, talent and money to his church. He told me of his discomfort when we discuss giving money to the church-especially when we talk about giving 10% of our income as the expectation to which we are encouraged to strive. He tells me that's not realistic and not of concern to God. He did not believe that God cared about the amount he gives, but rather that God cares about whether he is a kind and good person. So, he believed that God cared about who he is; well, isn't his relationship with money part of his life-part of who he is? Today, I would like to consider two reasons why I believe that God does care about what we do with our money. First, God cares because God has called us to care for each other and to proclaim the Good News to others-basically, to be the church in this time and place. Second, God cares because God wants us to be free. First, I maintain that God does care about the money that we give to the church. How could God not care? What you and I give enables ministry to happen. In this congregation, everyone's contribution is extremely important and makes a big difference in what we can do. Your money enables this church to maintain a welcoming and well maintain physical presence here on Senseny Rd. Years ago Bishop Baden envisioned the growth that we are now seeing all around our church. We are here to welcome all the new folks who are moving in and looking for friends and a place to worship God. Your money enables this church to advertise and let people know who we are and what we offer-it enables us to offer programs and education. Your money allows us to be a place where the stories of God are told and taught so that they become the stories that transform and heal. How could God not care about the money you give to St. Paul's on-the-Hill when it makes such a difference in God's ability to transform lives? This brings me to my second reason that God cares about what we do with our money. By drawing us into the questions about money and our loyalties, God seeks to transform your life and my life. God wants us to know the freedom of life that comes when we know that we are God's beloved-when we know our value in such divine terms rather than basing our value or contentment on what we possess and the money we have. You may know that Donald Trump has a TV show called The Apprentice. Smart and attractive people compete to become his employee. The opening of the show each week features a written question: "What if you could have it all?" While we hear the words, "money, money, money" being sung. The last time I saw the show, I imagined the words "God, God, God" being the way to having it all rather than money. Money, at the end of the day, will not meet our deepest need. "What if you could have it all?" Here is the good news-you can have it all. You and I can have the peace and freedom that comes from being embraced by God. God wants you to have it all. Money comes and goes-God remains faithful. When we start to see our money in its right relationship to God, we want to use that money to enable others to share in the peace and the freedom. You have the resources to make this church a true oasis of love and welcome beyond what it already is. God does care about the amount of money you and I give because it says something about our relationship to God. May we all come to know the depth of God's love for us so that we may share that love with others. Amen.