3 minute read

Tax Day: Biblical Principles for Finances

I could expand this list a great deal by including the many other religions that have arisen across the centuries. And since Satan is the originator of all religions but the Judeo-Christian faith, new ones are birthed by his demons every year. But like their religious predecessors, they too, in time, will die and rot in their graves!

In fulfillment of biblical prophecy, God promised that He would not abandon His Son to the grave or “let [his] holy one see decay” (Psalm 16:10; Acts 2:27–28). If God did not raise Jesus bodily from the grave, He is a liar and His Word is the greatest written deception of history (1 Corinthians 15). However, to any rational-thinking person who is willing to take a hard look at the evidence, the resurrection is the greatest fact of history!

Easter is never over. Every day, all over the world, Jesus continues to manifest His resurrection presence, power, prosperity, and peace. The reality of the resurrection takes place every time a sinner puts their faith in Jesus Christ, which is only possible because He is alive!

Do you believe? Jesus’ words to Peter after appearing to him are the same for you: “Follow me!” (John 21:19). Just as certainly as God raised Jesus from the dead, He too can raise you to new life in Him. His resurrection love is relentless. He will pursue you to the very gates of hell to woo and win you to the Father’s love. And through the Holy Spirit, He will lovingly lead you where you always wanted to go, but just didn’t know how to get there! He will fulfill the deepest longings of your heart through His unconditional love. He will fill you with unspeakable joy through His unqualified forgiveness. He will release you to the purposes for which He created you through His unlimited power.

Easter is never over! It never has been and never will be. Throughout time and eternity we will commemorate and celebrate the moment-by-moment realities of the risen Christ! And it doesn’t get any better than that—live or die! To Him be the glory in and through our lives!

23

Biblical Principles for Finances

Tax Day—April 15

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:21

Your money, more than any other single factor, reveals the true treasure of your heart. Giving is a tangible physical indicator of your true spiritual condition, and your checkbook reveals your true priorities. How you spend your time and your money will impact your eternity more than anything else.

God’s Word talks about money and materialism more than almost any other subject: 2,300 references! There are more Bible verses on money and finances than on sex and immorality. While there are 500 references to prayer, there are 700 to money. Jesus spoke more about money than about heaven and hell combined, and 16 out of His 38 parables deal with money. So if the Bible talks about money and materialism that much, God must have known that we were going to have a pretty big problem with it.

It is easy to see that material things are all people think and worry about. The fact that Jesus addressed this with His disciples shows that they too must have struggled in this area. “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. . . . But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:25–33).

Yet, because we really do not trust God for our needs and feel that we know more about money and finances than He does, we especially take charge in this area of our lives. Rather than living by faith and waiting on the Lord to meet our needs in His time and in His way, we do it the world’s way. If we want it, we go out and get it. It matters not if we need it, can afford it, or pay for it.

24