May 3, 2008
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Economic Stimulus Payment & Christ
Economic Stimulus Payment & Christ
April 28, 2008 | By: John Piper
Category: Commentary
For a moment, forget the political puzzle of getting money back when the country is nine trillion dollars in debt. The more immediate question is: How will you make much of Christ with your “economic stimulus payment”? The president says it will be in the mail in time for Cinco de Mayo.
Clue: Nobody in the world will see you spend your money on yourself and conclude that Christ is your treasure. They will assume you are just like them, no matter how loudly you thank God for this boon. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t spend it on yourself (the way we do with most of what we earn). Not everything we do can look different from the world—eat, pay utilities, fill up the car, wear clothes (even thrift-store clothes). And yes, we hope (somehow) that spending on ourselves in some way contributes to our being more Christ-exalting people.
But do we really need this money? Very few do. We would have gotten on fine without it. If we didn’t know it was coming, we wouldn’t even be feeling the desires we are feeling right now.
May I encourage you to be radically creative and hedonistic. Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). And those crazy Macedonians in a “severe test of affliction” and in “extreme poverty” had an “abundance of joy” that overflowed in a “wealth of generosity.” They even begged Paul “for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints” (2 Corinthians 8:2-4). They really believed what Jesus said. Really.
Before the check comes dream of some person or ministry which might make much of Christ because you treasured him above your next home project.
The reason God created money and enabled us to earn it is so that we could show by the way we use it that money is not our treasure, Christ is. That’s why the checks are coming. So we can make Christ look great.
“Be content with what you have, for he has said,
‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’” (Hebrews 13:5-6).
Comments (6)
Thank you for the wonderful idea. I am guilty of thinking of what I could do with that money to pay off a bill or something. And even if no one sees that I have given to a ministry, nor that I am seeking to honor Christ in my gift…He will and that is really all that counts. Thank you Georgene for constantly pointing me to Christ.
What if all members of our church donated theirs to missions that we regularly support? What an impact that would make! Does anyone know: “Will we have to pay income tax on this?” I wonder how this give-away will affect us all in the long run. It concerns me. We must trust our Lord and He will bless when we do.
I read this too and loved it! Have a beautiful weekend!
good words!
Amen. I know there are missionaries and ministries in need right now. People wrongly assume that because a ministry or missionaries continues in their work, they must have their needs met.
I hope everyone reads this post, and I hope they will all give God the opportunity to direct their spending. Wouldn’t it be exciting to see the work of God prosper this month, because the Body of Christ accepts this challenge? It’s a wonderful thought.
Praise God for you and your wonderful example of always pointing us to Christ! Thank you!