Okay, so we’re getting a check back from the government this year – I’m almost certain you’ve heard about it. Since I don’t watch television (unless it’s college football or presidential debates – or I’m at my parent’s house watching Law and Order) I was one of the last of America’s tax payers to hear about it. And when I did, I’ll admit, I was pretty pumped. And it didn’t take me long to figure out what it would go to pay for – seeing as life ain’t cheap for a ramblin’ seminarian. But along with everything else that you’ve planned to do with your Rebate Check, I’d like to challenge you to send Uncle Sam’s money to Asia.
More than likely, if you spend this check on any consumer good (be it electronics, clothing, etc, etc.) you’re going to be buying foreign goods any how. So, rather than buying something for yourself or your family that will have no eternal value whatsoever, I’d like you to consider giving a part of your check to foreign missions! I’m not saying that is the only “spiritual” option for Christians to use this money “to the glory of God,” but it’s definitely one of them!
Pray about it, and rather than sending Uncle Sam’s money to Asia on behalf of a new cell phone or high definition TV, send Uncle Sam’s money to Asia on behalf of Jesus Christ in the hands of ministers of His blessed Gospel!
If you need more convincing, read this devotional by John Piper on the subject:
Economic Stimulus Payment & Christ
Posted: 28 Apr 2008 07:35 AM CDT
(Author: John Piper)
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).(HT: Desiring God)
5 Comments
April 28, 2008 at 9:12 pm
Or you could pay off debt (if you have any) or pay some of next semester’s tuition!
April 29, 2008 at 1:16 am
I agree with the spirit of your post and also read and enjoyed Piper’s post. However, I do not agree with your economic reasoning.
“More than likely, if you spend this check on any consumer good (be it electronics, clothing, etc, etc.) you’re going to be buying foreign goods any how…rather than sending Uncle Sam’s money to Asia on behalf of a new cell phone or high definition TV.”
While a Korean TV, bought in the US, would add to the Korean GDP and not the US GDP, it is still a stimulus to our economy. Quarter over quarter retail sales (for instance, Jan-Mar 07 v Jan-Mar 08 gross sales) are one of the key metrics for measuring the health of the economy. Many stores are launching marketing plans, such as give us your $300 check and receive a $330 gift card. According to the logic of the plan, this is a good use of the money. I expect that the US companies involved throughout the supply chain (transportation, wholesale, retail) collectively receive a larger portion of the markup between the manufacturing cost and final price than the Korean factory.
I don’t think anyone is obligated to spend the money “patriotically” and in fact, as Piper implies, there is room to dislike the policy, and decided to save or give as an act of conscientious objection.
April 29, 2008 at 8:11 am
Chris-
If I was more economically astute, I could probably track a consumer dollar through all the avenues of our economic system – but suffice it to say that most of the money we spend today (on anything, not just foreign “made” goods, but on goods marketed by foreign companies, supported by foreign businesses, and ultimately finding their origination somewhere other than Main Street) goes outside of the U.S. I don’t deny that consumer spending jump starts an economy, but with billions (perhaps even trillions) owed to China, nearly anywhere you spend that check, Uncle Sam is eventually going to have to square up with the Chinese government.
Hence the reason that donating a portion of it to a non-profit mission organization, or to a missionary themselves is such a revolutionary idea!
Again, its one of many good options, but it’s one of the best I can think of.
Tlangejr -
I’ll be doing a little of that too!
April 29, 2008 at 9:06 am
Barack Obama is going to reinstate pay-as-you-go spending, so perhaps you should donate it to his campaign
April 29, 2008 at 10:40 am
Oh you….!
::as I wave my fist in the air and smile::