Fishing for dollars
This week is on Matthew 17:24-27:
Peter and Jesus needed some cash to pay off the local religious authorities. Jesus could have been like "Oh, look, there's a coin right behind your ear, Peter! Let me get it for you. *poof* Look, it's a four drachma coin, the exact cost of our tax! How did that happen, buddy?!" Instead, he made Peter go get it. If Jesus just handed it to him, Peter wouldn't have been able to participate in the blessing. And nothing turns a blessing into a curse more quickly than when the blessing comes in the form of a handout and you come to take it for granted.
Jesus gave Peter a role in getting his coin, but it was a very reasonable role. It was something Peter already knew how to do. Jesus didn't send him off to work in a field for a couple days, or to go on some epic quest. He sent Peter, a fisherman, to go catch a fish. But if he sent him to go fish, sell the fish, and use that money, it wouldn't have been a special miracle. Peter did that before he met Jesus. Boring! Instead, Jesus customized reality so that he and Peter could have a shared moment with his provision.
God has the ability to intervene in our lives, but often likes to partner with us in securing our blessings. He will provide, but sometimes we need to play along and be patient. Even if the financial need is something we brought upon ourselves, Jesus is still there for us. Next time you ask for something, don't be surprised if you have to do something to join the fun. It's another opportunity to share life with Jesus.
There have been teachings on the Jesus' lesson about paying the tax to the temple before, but the part I find fascinating is the fact that Jesus brings money by way of a fish, and uses a fisherman to go get it. That's high class! What's even better is that it demonstrates something about God's provision.
After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax came to Peter and asked, "Doesn't your teacher pay the temple tax?""Yes, he does," he replied.
When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. "What do you think, Simon?" he asked. "From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes—from their own sons or from others?""From others," Peter answered.
"Then the sons are exempt," Jesus said to him. "But so that we may not offend them, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours."
Peter and Jesus needed some cash to pay off the local religious authorities. Jesus could have been like "Oh, look, there's a coin right behind your ear, Peter! Let me get it for you. *poof* Look, it's a four drachma coin, the exact cost of our tax! How did that happen, buddy?!" Instead, he made Peter go get it. If Jesus just handed it to him, Peter wouldn't have been able to participate in the blessing. And nothing turns a blessing into a curse more quickly than when the blessing comes in the form of a handout and you come to take it for granted.
Jesus gave Peter a role in getting his coin, but it was a very reasonable role. It was something Peter already knew how to do. Jesus didn't send him off to work in a field for a couple days, or to go on some epic quest. He sent Peter, a fisherman, to go catch a fish. But if he sent him to go fish, sell the fish, and use that money, it wouldn't have been a special miracle. Peter did that before he met Jesus. Boring! Instead, Jesus customized reality so that he and Peter could have a shared moment with his provision.
God has the ability to intervene in our lives, but often likes to partner with us in securing our blessings. He will provide, but sometimes we need to play along and be patient. Even if the financial need is something we brought upon ourselves, Jesus is still there for us. Next time you ask for something, don't be surprised if you have to do something to join the fun. It's another opportunity to share life with Jesus.
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