1. God’s Things Matthew 22: 15-22

2. Introduction-1 Jesus was teaching in the temple The Pharisees sent their disciples and the Herodians to Him with a question “Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”- v. 17 Came to Jesus with deceit and flattery to try entrap Him If he answered yes, Jesus would have alienated Jews who resented paying tribute to Rome And if He said no, he would have been accused of rebellion

3. Introduction-2 Jesus immediately called for a coin and asked whose image was on it When they answered Caesar’s, He said, “ Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”- v. 21 Jesus’ answer caused them to marvel His answer suggests there are things that we ought to be giving to the Lord I want to consider some of those in this lesson

4. Giving to God God owns all things Psa. 24:1 says, “The earth is the LORD’s, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein.” We are stewards of all that we possess Neither does God need the things that we have- Acts 17:25 But there are things God claims and wants us to give to Him These are identified in His book, the Bible It also reveals the punishment of those who withhold these things and the blessings of those who give them

5. God Wants Our Love It is the great commandment in the Law- Mt. 22:37 It is our response to His love for us- I Jn. 4:19 To love God is to want to please Him in all things Loving God involves: 1.Loving His word- Psa. 119:97 2.Respecting and reverencing His name- Ex. 20:7 3. Keeping His commandments- I Jn. 5:3

6. God Wants Our Complete Obedience We demonstrate our love for God and our faith in Him by our obedience to His word He expects us to obey all that He has said- Col. 3:17 Without addition, subtraction or substitution- Rev. 22:18-19 God’s way is always best for us and for others Partial obedience is disobedience It substitutes human will for God’s will- I Sam. 15:22

7. God Wants Our Worship God has desired worship in all ages God is the only being worthy of worship- Mt. 4:10 Those who love God will worship Him as often as possible God is not pleased with all worship- Lev. 10:1-2 He has identified the worship that He wants Worship according His word and from our hearts- Jn. 4:24 Human innovations in worship dishonor God

8. God Wants First Place-1 In our hearts and in our lives He wants us to love and trust Him more than any other His place is shown by our priorities- Mt. 6:33 God deserves to be first 1. Because He is our Creator- Psa. 100:3 2.Because He is our Sustainer 3.Because He is our Savior- Jn. 3:16 4.Because of the many blessings that He has given to us

9. God Wants First Place-2 Things that can take God’s place 1. Selfishness or a desire to please self 2.Possessions- Mt. 19:22 3.Pleasures and approval of the world- II Tim. 4:10 Any thing that takes God’s place in our heart becomes an idol- Col. 3:5 When God is first, we will gladly give Him all the other things He requires

10. God Wants Our Best He Commanded the best for sacrifices under the Law- Lev. 22:19 Jews in Malachi’s day were cursed because they withheld their tithes and their best- Mal. 3:8 God has given the best to us- Jn. 3:16 He deserves the best of our time, energy, talents and possessions If God holds first place in our lives, then we will give Him the best that we have

11. In Conclusion There are things that God claims, and we ought to cheerfully give them to Him Our love, our obedient service, our worship, first place in our hearts and lives, and the best that we have He will bless and reward those who give Him these things Are you giving these things to the Lord this morning?