Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon [money, possessions, fame, status, or whatever is valued more than the Lord]. AMP

Here is where today’s title comes into play. This verse is sandwiched between 6:23 and 6:25 and is the meat of the sandwich, but 23 and 25 are the bread, without them, no sandwich.

A quick summary of verse 23 is that the eye is the window to your world. What you look at gets into you, is recorded in memory, has influence. This happens whether you are aware of it or not. While it speaks of an evil eye, one must remember that the eye itself does not chose what to look at, it takes in wherever it is aimed. The issue of visual is powerful because it has unrestricted access to the mind.

Verse 24 speaks directly to anxiety. Worry and concern are forms of anxiety. It is in fact trust wavered. Trust is a faith issue, as it relates to God’s promises. We have not seen all of God’s promises, we have to trust God for them. Once again verse 25 speaks to and is related to worldly things; food, drink, clothes and by extension the necessities of life, necessities not desires.

Now the eye of 23 takes in all things, necessities and non-essentials both. It has no filter, it is unrestricted access except as is directed by the feet that took those eyes to that point of observation. Most of us understand the harsh realities. The news brings us the events which stir our emotions, right or wrong, it happens. Disasters and tragedies abound if it bleeds it leads. In some of us we have bad news filters that help us cope. In others we have to take a break from the news to quiet or minds and restore peace. Those are the obvious visual stimulants.

The more subtle and destructive stimulants are the ones that are pleasing to the eye. Those stimulate desire and covetousness. They eat ate the anchors of trust without notice. They are nibbles whereas disasters are explosions. Window shop without saying “I like that.” You do not have to say “I want that.” The subtle input has been implanted upon the brain.

In the middle between the eye and the anxiety is service. Who do you serve? Say God but that car dealership is betting you want that newer model and they are spending money on commercials to entice you into upgrading your 3 year old car that isn’t yet paid off. That is calm in comparison to some of the more dangerous visual stimulations floating around the internet.

Want to know why texting is so popular and dangerous. It’s visual.

Matthew 22:21c Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.

It is easier to see that which is Caesar’s is it not? Caesar’s things have Caesar’s image upon them. Caesar has a large army of loyal followers to collect what is due Caesar. Caesar is rather noisy about what he wants.

What are the things of God? I don’t hear God making any loud bold demands about what He is due. His voice is but a gentle whisper. I have to be very very still to hear Him. Even then His grace is so overwhelming that the favor given far exceeds any request made. What is His?

John3:35 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.

Wait, if all things are His already, how can I give Him anything? He already has all things? This takes us back to Caesar and the tribute and the rendering. Caesar is His, the tribute is His and the rendering of things to Caesar is meaningless except to Caesar. Caesar is the one who cares about the tribute. God doesn’t need your tribute, it is already His. So what does God want?

Numbers 18:9 This shall be thine of the most holy things, reserved from the fire: every oblation of their’s, every meat offering of their’s, and every sin offering of their’s, and every trespass offering of their’s which they shall render unto me, shall be most holy for thee and for thy sons.

That which is rendered unto God is most holy. It isn’t about the tribute, it is all about the rendering. Whenever we think about Matthew 22:21 we think about the tribute because the Pharisees were asking about the tribute. Jesus turned the conversation to the rendering but the dull of ears did not hear that, their minds and hearts were set on the tribute.

Sacrifice was seen as an act of devotion to God. If they could give of the best they had to offer, it was seen as loving God more than loving things. Given that this rendering is an act of devotion, then exactly what do we render to God that which is not already His?

Mark 12:30 And thou shalt render unto the Lord thy God all thy heart, and all thy soul, and all thy mind, and all thy strength: this is the first commandment. (HCV)