Render Unto Caesar

This week I find myself again in the position of starting my Mustard Seed the morning of posting. With so many distractions in our life it’s easy to lose sight of our priorities and obligations.
Yesterday, I mentally listed all the tasks I had before me. I then checked the box next to none of the above. I proceeded to spend an embarrassing amount of time playing one of two games I allow on my smartphone. The providers of the game added an enticement; if one completes a specified number of puzzles they receive two credits, randomly applied toward one of nine cute images which can be selected as the player’s avatar once three credits are achieved. I have no intention to use any of the images so the lure for me is only the right to use the images. Why is this so captivating?
    I conclude that it is our abhorrence of limits that provides the stimulation to waste something whose limit we can’t stretch — time. We happily squander our time hacking away at limits we have no need to breech. Why do we do that?
    It is my habit when I seek an answer I can’t quite grasp to pray. I often find inspiration that, at first glance, seems quite unrelated. Such was the case this time. What popped up is, “Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s.” How did this apply? I was giving time to something that didn’t deserve the time.
     I don’t always understand my prayers, but I trust them. I dove deeper into the message. I imagined the context; Jesus was discussing taxation and asked for a coin. Is the coin significant? Yes! A coin has two sides. What is on the flip side? Render unto Peter the things which are Peter’s. I should expect to receive that which is mine. I should not expect — or chase — that which is not for me. Render unto each the things that are theirs. Do not stop with Caesar. We have obligations which ought to be met. Those obligations are more deserving of our time than is our entertainment.
    Will I live according to this wisdom? I might for now, but probably not for very long. Then it will be time to pray again.
     Next week:  I’ll pray again.
                                                         God bless.

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