PAUL OWENS - A Biblical Stimulus Plan

Yesterday, on my day away from the church office, I found myself sitting down and writing a letter to our President and our Delaware Representative and Senators. In the letter I presented my own personal "9 Point Stimulus Plan," which involved some major spending and major borrowing. Of course I was doing this tongue-in-cheek as a way of expressing some concerns over the current economic stimulus plan.

My letter went out a bit late since Congress has already passed the plan and the President was to sign it that very day. Even though it was late, I sent it out anyway. The letter also got me thinking about what a biblical economic stimulus plan would look like. Long time ago, John Wesley gave this advice about money... Earn all you can; Save all you can; and Give all you can. In today's Bible reading from Acts 4. 32-5.11, we read that the early followers of Jesus did not claim their possessions as their own, but shared everything they had to those that were in need. And we are told that... "from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the disciples feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need." Now that is radical Christianity!

The Bible is filled with a ton of information about how we are to handle money; in fact, there are more verses in the Bible about money than there are about eternal life. Apparently God is very aware that how we handle money tells volumes about who we are at the deepest core of our being. Ask someone to show you their budget or checkbook and you will find out very quickly that person's priorities in life.

I think that at the heart of Jesus' economic stimulus package, would be a deemphasizing of the acquisition of material stuff and wealth, and a renewed emphasis on taking care of one another's soul and spirit. (Now, Jesus understood that people needed food, clothing and shelter and he even promised, as we trust him and put him first, that he would see to it that these things come our way.) And along with a deemphasizing of material stuff, I also think that the motivation behind the Jesus' stimulus program would be the desire to honor God... just as Jesus did, as he voluntarily gave his life that we could have life.

Blessings to you!

Pastor Paul

Cornerstone Church