Gospel.com Blog

It’s tax day! If you live in the U.S., you’ve got just a few more hours to get those tax returns in the mail. Yesterday we linked to a few good articles about money and finance; today, while taxes are still on the mind, we’ll point out a couple more. But first, what better Bible verse to read today than Jesus’ famous response to the question of taxes:

Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words. They came to him and said, “Teacher, we know you are a man of integrity. You aren’t swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay or shouldn’t we?”

But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. “Why are you trying to trap me?” he asked. “Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” They brought the coin, and he asked them, “Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?”

“Caesar’s,” they replied.

Then Jesus said to them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” And they were amazed at him.

So if you were hoping that the Bible would offer a good reason to weasel out of paying Caesar his due this year, you’re out of luck. Now, on to a few more good resources about how money and finances fit into the Christian life:

• Revive Our Hearts has two noteworthy radio programs about money. First up is a devotional series about the “treasure principle,” in which Christians are challenged to think “eternally” about every giving, saving, and spending decision they make. There’s also a two-part series explaining who your money really belongs to, and why our financial decisions are also spiritual decisions.
• YMExchange has a series of financial articles aimed at youth workers: breaking free of debt, living wisely with little money (youth workers are not known for drawing huge salaries!), and saving for the future.
• ACTS International asks: Is money your servant—or your master?
• Are you a good steward? A series of Bible studies at Into Thy Word about personal finances and stewardship.

I hope you find these articles useful and challenging. See if by this time next year, when tax time rolls around again, you can apply some of these Biblical financial guidelines to your own life!

For many Americans, this is one of the darkest weeks of the year: it’s the week that taxes are due. If you’ve spent a few hours lately slogging your way through your tax forms (and if you haven’t, you really should get on that), the odds are good that you’ve lamented a few financial decisions, or wondered where all your money went over the course of the year.

As you can well imagine, money concerns and worries top the list of stress-inducing topics for most everybody, rich or poor. Everyone worries about making ends meet—but for Christians, there’s an extra dimension to the whole issue of money and finances. Christians must face the question of how they are to spiritually view the pursuit of wealth, and how they are to manage their money.

The Bible has a lot to say about riches, wealth, and money management, and this week seems like the perfect time to take a look at what God teaches us about money. Whether you’re living from paycheck to paycheck or are swimming in cash, the Bible challenges you to adopt a Christlike attitude toward money. Here are some resources that explore what, exactly, that means:

• The Bible and money: resources for teaching personal money management.
• Jesus’ Parables about money: what does a man who lived 2000 years ago have to say about your money troubles today?
• A Christian view of personal finances: an in-depth Bible study to help you understand and gain control of your money.
• Teaching financial responsibility to Children: how can you help your kids develop sound financial habits in an age of materialism and debt?
• God’s gift of wealth: where does our wealth ultimately come from, and what are we supposed to do with it?
• Managing your money wisely: a short devotional about the place of wealth and money in our lives.

No Christ-follower, no matter how destitute or how rich, is exempt from this call to understand our wealth Biblically. So while finances are on your mind this week, take some time to consider how your financial life intersects with your spiritual life! We’ll be back tomorrow on Tax Day with a few more money-related items to get you thinking. Now, go forth and finish those tax forms!

It’s Black Friday! Thanksgiving is over, and Christmas is on the horizon—but unfortunately, it’s easy for us to let this time between Thanksgiving and Christmas become a celebration of materialism and not of the coming Christ child. For Christians, Christmas can be a delicate balance between giving and good stewardship. So how do we manage our spending in a way that honors God?

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