How Will You Spend It?

How Will You Spend It?

April showers bring May flowers, and April taxes filed bring May “economic stimulus payments”. Which is more beneficial, the flowers or the cash? The flowers display the glory of God as a beautiful Creator and faithful Sustainer.

“And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field: how they grow, they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
- Matthew 6:28b-33

The “economic stimulus payment” tries display the benevolence of an inflated government hiding its three trillion dollar debt while encouraging you toward promise through spending on things that satisfy.

“…we have come together on a single mission — and that is to put the people’s interests first.”
- President George Bush

“The bipartisan plan the president signed today will help millions of Americans who are struggling in an uncertain economy,” Reid said. “Congress promised to act quickly and effectively to help those who need it most, and this law represents a promise kept to the American people.”
- Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid
http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/bush-signs-stimulus-bill-2008-02-13.html

We must be careful about the thoughts of our hearts towards what is most beneficial and what holds promise. We should respond with thanksgiving to God for what he gives, but we must trust in God who displays his glory as the truly satisfying faithful Redeemer, Creator and Sustainer of our lives when we steward what he gives. When we steward what he gives we can treasure him or we can treasure what he gives and this worship in one direction or the other will guide our stewardship of an “economic stimulus payment”. May God give his church a heart to treasure him and wisdom to steward what he gives for his glory in the earth.

He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity.
- Ecclesiastes 5:10