{"id":3386,"date":"2020-04-16T08:30:58","date_gmt":"2020-04-16T16:30:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/randyalcorn\/?p=3386"},"modified":"2020-04-13T07:45:10","modified_gmt":"2020-04-13T15:45:10","slug":"give-stimulus-check","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/randyalcorn\/2020\/04\/give-stimulus-check\/","title":{"rendered":"If You Don\u2019t Really Need Your Stimulus Check, Would You Prayerfully Consider Giving It to God\u2019s Kingdom?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

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There are many Americans who are anticipating receiving their coronavirus stimulus check from the government because they truly need the money in order to pay bills and care for their families right now. But if you\u2019re in a position where this money would just go into your savings account or to fund wants but not needs, I would like to make what might seem to be a radical suggestion. Would you prayerfully consider giving it away to God\u2019s kingdom? That\u2019s what we\u2019re going to do. And if you can, please join us.<\/p>\n

A friend of our ministry sent this note:<\/p>\n

When I heard we were getting a stimulus check of $1,200, I realized I was in a place that I did not \u201cneed\u201d this money. Our income had not changed that much due to the COVID-19 virus. I asked God what He would want me to do with this and when I received a giving invitation from a ministry named\u00a0Kizimani<\/a>, I knew instantly that was where He wanted me to give.\u00a0 My husband was fully on board, of course.\u00a0I immediately responded and pledged the money (knowing that my heart can change so quickly in a given moment).<\/p>\n

I felt such joy! But I wondered, with all we have couldn\u2019t we give more?\u00a0I\u2019m still wrestling with that. I wish I could say we emptied our bank account but I\u2019m praying God would make us pliable and that we would listen to what He wants us to do.<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t want this to turn into \u201clook what we\u2019re doing.\u201d But I can\u2019t help wanting to let people know that this extra income is an opportunity to give to those in need.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In my book\u00a0Giving Is the Good Life<\/a><\/em>, I share how Jesus told His disciples a parable in which He described a \u201cfaithful and wise manager\u201d as one who gave his servants food and other resources \u201cat the proper time.\u201d When the master returned and saw one servant faithfully managing his resources, he \u201cput him in charge of all his possessions\u201d (Luke 12:42-44, NIV). Jesus continued the parable by describing an unfaithful servant who forgot about his master and failed to manage his assets according to his principles. This servant got drunk and beat the other servants. Jesus promised the master would return when the servant didn\u2019t expect it and bring harsh judgment on him (Luke 12:45-47).<\/p>\n

In contrast to the faithful servant, the unfaithful servant mismanaged the master\u2019s resources. Instead of carefully managing the owner\u2019s possessions, he greedily squandered them on himself.<\/p>\n

Jesus then summarized the point of the parable with these words: \u201cEveryone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more\u201d (Luke 12:48).<\/p>\n

Make no mistake about it, you and I\u2014who live in the most affluent society in human history, even in an economic downturn\u2014have been entrusted with much. So in light of Jesus\u2019 words, we need to ask ourselves,\u00a0Am I a faithful servant or an unfaithful servant when it comes to what I do with my Lord\u2019s resources?<\/em><\/p>\n

God entrusts a fortune even to many who spend their lives wishing they made more. We will answer to Him for what we\u2019ve done with what we have (Romans 14:12). Where did that money go? What needs did we meet with it, both inside and outside our families? What difference did it make for eternity? Did it pierce our lives with grief because we clung to it, or did it fill our lives with joy because we honored God with it?<\/p>\n

Paul said that \u201cGod loves a cheerful giver\u201d (2\u00a0Corinthians\u00a09:7, ESV). What keeps us from giving cheerfully? We instinctively imagine that hoarding or spending on ourselves will make us happiest. But Jesus said our greatest joy comes when we give to others: \u201cThere is more happiness in giving than in receiving\u201d (Acts\u00a020:35, GNT). You might have heard that verse translated \u201cIt is more blessed to give than receive,\u201d but the well-documented fact is that the Greek word\u00a0makarios<\/em>\u00a0here, translated \u201cblessed,\u201d really means \u201chappy\u201d or \u201chappy-making.\u201d<\/p>\n

Notice what Jesus did\u00a0not<\/em>\u00a0say: \u201cNaturally, we\u2019re happier when we receive than when we give, but giving is a duty, so grit your teeth, make the sacrifice, and force yourself to give.\u201d<\/p>\n

Money won\u2019t make us happy, but giving away money can make us profoundly happy! When we give out of love for Christ and others, we experience dramatic and lasting returns for the investments we\u2019ve made\u2014far more than if we\u2019d kept or spent it. Therefore, it\u2019s not only receivers who come out ahead\u2014it\u2019s givers, too.<\/p>\n

In the novel\u00a0Fahrenheit 451<\/em>, Ray Bradbury said, \u201cEveryone must leave something behind when he dies.\u00a0.\u00a0.\u00a0. The difference between the man who just cuts lawns and a real gardener is in the touching.\u00a0.\u00a0.\u00a0. The lawn-cutter might just as well not have been there at all; the gardener will be there a lifetime.\u201d<\/p>\n

As believers in Christ, we have the opportunity not just to tend flowers but to tend to people and leave an eternal impact, all for God\u2019s glory. May we never settle for anything less.<\/p>\n

(For more ideas where to give your check, check out EPM\u2019s\u00a0list of recommended organizations<\/a>.)<\/em><\/p>\n

A Note about Charitable Giving Incentives<\/strong><\/p>\n

Care Net<\/a>, a prolife ministry EPM recommends, shared this information about how the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act provides \u201csignificant tax incentives to stimulate increased charitable giving in the next few months to non-profit organizations\u201d:<\/p>\n

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