In Corny Casanovas (1952) the Three Stooges are reupholstering a davenport. Moe winds up swallowing a mouthful of tacks. Larry and Shemp desperately try to remove them -- "They won't come out," says Larry. "They went in," replies Shemp. "Maybe they're income tacks."*****
Then the Pharisees went and counseled together how they might trap Him in what He said. And they sent their disciples to Him, along with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that You are truthful and teach the way of God in truth, and defer to no one; for You are not partial to any. "Tell us therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to give a poll-tax to Caesar, or not?" But Jesus perceived their malice, and said, "Why are you testing Me, you hypocrites? "Show Me the coin used for the poll-tax." And they brought Him a denarius. And He said to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?" They said to Him, "Caesar's." Then He said to them, "Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's; and to God the things that are God's." And hearing this, they marveled, and leaving Him, they went away. -Matthew 22:15-22
I'm not crazy about paying taxes. I'm not sure anyone is. But you have to, so we all do it--usually grudgingly. My greater concern, however, is whether or not I am giving to God that which bears his image (myself) with a similar grudging attitude.
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