[Updated 09-May-2009]
	This month’s Focus is from Jill.

Render is a word I’ve been pondering these last few days.  Not the ‘slap it on the walls’ stuff, but the verb to give or submit.  The dictionary also offers to cause to be as a definition.

I was recalling Jesus saying Render to Caesar the things which are Caesar’s, and to God the things which are God’s (Matt 22:21).  Straightforward words, but sometimes very hard to apply.  I’m not too keen on ‘rendering’ my cash to anyone without careful thought.

I’m not sure why, but money issues have always been a big challenge.  There is a thin line between being prudent and down right stingy.  I’ve been balancing on another thin line recently.  Is it OK to pay cash for work done by a friend and defraud – there I've said it – defraud ‘Caesar’ out of his VAT?

Yes, we’re in the credit crunch.  Yes we want to get the best deal.  BUT Jesus said NEVER do anything at the expense of your soul!  In fact we are to go out of our way to render, or cause to be, the things the law demands.

If we cut corners on any of God’s standards, we lose, not save, and others do too.  How?  Well, we may well prevent them ever knowing that his ways always bring greater wealth.  We may not always get things right.  We do fail our own standards and God’s — but let’s be encouraged.  We are, after all, a work in progress!  Let’s be those who look first for God’s way of doing things and ask for his blessing rather than man’s.

More than anything else put God’s work first.
Then the other things will be yours as well.    Matthew 6:33 and see 1 Chronicles 4:9,10

Jill