Give Unto Caesar
The phrase, “..Give unto Caeser what is due Caesar..” is written in the bible as : ‘Render unto Caesar the things that are due Caesar’s’ “, in Matthew 22:21. The phrase was quoted to describe what Jesus Christ felt about the Jews paying taxes to the Romans. Interpretations through the years of this phrase are varied but the common ground I found in all the readings is this: give what is “just and equitable, and he ought to have his right” (Commentary by John Gill).
The word “just” is defined by the dictionary as “based on or behaving according to what is morally-right and fair”; and the word “equitable”, according to Merriam-Webster, is “dealing fairly and equally with all concerned”.
These come to mind today because I seem to view things from a different perspective, upon learning that this phrase “...Give unto Ceasar what is due..” came from the mouths of those whom are speaking of that “root of all evil”, money.
First of all, I find it disdainful to speak of money in the same breath with bible verses. If at all, their points would have been made without necessarily quoting the sacred book. I can only wonder if those who spoke the phrase were not aware of that fact that it is from the bible.
Second, I think that what we think is due us may not necessarily be what we claim to be rightfully “ours”. There is danger in self-entitlement; it springs from the assumption of people that they have the birthright to claim what is supposedly “theirs” without regard for fairness and equality, without consideration for others.
Third, while it is quite impossible to make decisions which would make everyone happy in an organization, I have , through the years been very conscious of leaning towards “for the good of most” rather than “to please all”. My approach to leading an organization is based on “malasakit”, or that value which one in an organization must feel responsible for another. We can only do that by thinking not entirely of the “self” but to at least ask ourselves, “what about the others?”.
Lastly, before we all even claim our entitlement to anything, it would be best to ponder about this: “do I deserve what I claim to be rightfully mine because it is written on some piece of paper or do I deserve it because I committed myself to being worthy?”
The word “just” is defined by the dictionary as “based on or behaving according to what is morally-right and fair”; and the word “equitable”, according to Merriam-Webster, is “dealing fairly and equally with all concerned”.
These come to mind today because I seem to view things from a different perspective, upon learning that this phrase “...Give unto Ceasar what is due..” came from the mouths of those whom are speaking of that “root of all evil”, money.
First of all, I find it disdainful to speak of money in the same breath with bible verses. If at all, their points would have been made without necessarily quoting the sacred book. I can only wonder if those who spoke the phrase were not aware of that fact that it is from the bible.
Second, I think that what we think is due us may not necessarily be what we claim to be rightfully “ours”. There is danger in self-entitlement; it springs from the assumption of people that they have the birthright to claim what is supposedly “theirs” without regard for fairness and equality, without consideration for others.
Third, while it is quite impossible to make decisions which would make everyone happy in an organization, I have , through the years been very conscious of leaning towards “for the good of most” rather than “to please all”. My approach to leading an organization is based on “malasakit”, or that value which one in an organization must feel responsible for another. We can only do that by thinking not entirely of the “self” but to at least ask ourselves, “what about the others?”.
Lastly, before we all even claim our entitlement to anything, it would be best to ponder about this: “do I deserve what I claim to be rightfully mine because it is written on some piece of paper or do I deserve it because I committed myself to being worthy?”
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