Christian Life,  Economics,  The Monday Muse

The Monday Muse: Stimulus Check

The news that each of us would be receiving an economic stimulus check in the mail was music to my ears. At first glance it seems like free money. And since we had to pay the government during tax time, this seemed to even things out. Of course we must remember that nothing is free. We are receiving this money only after each of us have paid numerable taxes on the money we worked for. So it is almost like fools gold. In any case, like many people I began to think of how we might use this money. What is the wisest thing to do? Is it different for different people and different circumstances? Is there a best case scenario as it relates to Christians using this money?

John Piper says we should make much of Christ with this check by thinking of how we might help someone in need or fund a person’s ministry. Tim Challies turned to David Kotter, Executive Director of The Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood and a former economics teacher, for advice on how to think Christianly about the economic stimulus payments. So…

How should we think concerning the use of the economic stimulus check? Does it even matter?

I’m not asking anyone to share the specifics of their spending in regards to this money (though you are welcome to do so if it helps support your point). I simply want to strike up a little dialogue on whether or not we should be thoughtful in how we use this “extra” money.

One Comment

  • burnshead

    Well, frankly, no I had not given a ton of thought to this topic prior to you mentioning it. Part of this is because I feel I have a relatively decent grasp of how to handle my finances in a God honoring way to begin with, so I wasn’t going to treat the much anticipated stimulus check any differently than I do my other income.

    I agree that we should be deliberate about the way we spend our money, including the stimulus check. I do not think that Christians should be under any undue obligation – whether real or imagined – to simply donate all of this money to charity.

    If there are families struggling in debt, living paycheck to paycheck I believe they will be honoring God more by paying down their credit card bills than they will by donating it all to the local mission. At the same time, this same family should not be going out to buy a widescreen TV with their check.

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