Since many Americans will reportedly begin receiving stimulus checks as early as this week, how should Christians begin to think about a coming influx of money? Should we give it away? Should we save it? Should we spend it? Should we tithe it?
The Bible doesn’t give us specific commands for what we should do when the government gives away money, but God does give many helpful principals toward pursuing financial wisdom:
8 Biblical Principals
1. God Owns The Cattle On A Thousand Hills
God not only owns the cattle on a thousand hills (Ps. 50:10), but he owns every penny of the two trillion stimulus dollars. Christians are to be humble stewards of God’s resources—his third-party money managers. Be thankful for your government, but even more thankful for your God.
2. God Provides For His People’s Needs
It’s disgraceful when those who are given the opportunity to provide for their families, choose not to do so (1 Tim. 5:8). Take care of your own bills, debts, and expenses as well of those of your extended family. This stimulus was designed to bring economic stability in a time of instability.
3. God Sometimes Provides For Future Difficulty
When provisions are plentiful, the ant works in wisdom knowing cold and less fruitful winters are coming. (Prov. 6:6-8). We don’t know how long the economic downturn could last, so saving seems prudent.
4. Godliness With Contentment Is Great Gain
Since the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils (1 Tim. 6:6-10), be careful not to fall into the temptation to love the stuff this money can buy more than the stability God can provide. “Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’ or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God (Prov. 30:8-9).
5. God Provides For Enjoyment
When held in tension with “ready to share” (see #6), there’s nothing wrong with enjoying God’s provision. Enjoying a nice date night or a new outfit as a gift from God also helps the economy.
6. God Provides So That We Might Share
Paul urges Timothy to remind the wealthy of the uncertainty of money and to thus be generous and willing to share (1 Tim. 6:17). Consider how you might help a family, friend, or even a business. There is invaluable dignity in work. Giving towards businesses provides them income and restores that dignity to their workers.
The U.S. has extraordinary economic safety nets in place (like this stimulus), while many countries throughout the world do not. Consider giving to individual global partners or larger missions agencies who can funnel funds toward those in even more dire situations.
7. God Loves A Cheerful Giver
While tithing 10% is not the model of New Testament giving, joyful generosity is (2 Cor. 9:7). Online giving has helped many churches stem the tide of financial disaster, but continue to generously give toward the work and ministry of the church, especially if you are a member.
8. God Says It Is More Blessed To Give Than To Receive
However you use this stimulus money, remember that Jesus said it is more blessed to give than to receive. So find your higher joys not in receiving or hoarding these funds but by sharing them through business and acts of generosity (Acts 20:33-35).
Concluding Thoughts
For someone who has lost income, it seems most wise to treat this stimulus check like any other income and focus most of it on providing for immediate needs (#2, above). Be faithful to give some toward the worshipful advancement of God’s Kingdom (your local church), but, considering the above biblical principles, feel the absolute freedom to use the rest as you normally would.
If, on the other hand, your income has not yet been affected by this pandemic in a significant way, one might divide the proposed $1,200 in the following way:
#2 ($300): Pay down some of your existing debt.
#3 ($300): Put away some for rainy-day savings.
#5 ($300): Do some research to see what industries have been hit hardest in your local economy. Consider gifting to businesses you know personally, or simply shopping or eating at those you don’t.
#6-8 ($300): Check how giving at your local church has been affected since the downturn; donate to a local food bank; donate to your church’s designated benevolence fund; donate to Christian and non-Christian organizations on the frontlines of helping people in crisis; donate to another local church whose budget might be struggling more than yours; donate to global mission work; share with a neighbor or friend that you know is hurting; pay someone’s rent or utility bill for them.
God is already bringing good in countless ways in the midst suffering, and we pray he might even use dollars from the kingdoms of this world to advance the purposes of the Kingdom of Heaven.
