Mar. 24: Money Boycott

America has a new coin. The Presidential $1 Coins have caused a stir among some of our nation’s citizens. In fact, there are those who are calling for a boycott of the coin because it has the mottos “In God We Trust” and “E Pluribus Unum” etched on the edge of the coin rather than displayed in raised lettering on the face of the money-piece.

Some have accused Congress of erasing all references to God from our money and becoming a secular society where all religious symbols are removed from public view. Jesus had a lot to say about money—in fact He taught more about that than He did the subjects of heaven and hell combined.

On one occasion we find that “the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap Jesus in his words. They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. ‘Teacher,’ they said, ‘we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are. Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" But Jesus (knowing their evil intent) said, "You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax." They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, "Whose portrait is this, and whose inscription?" "Caesar's," they replied. Then he said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away. (Matthew 22:15-22)

Give to the government what belongs to the government and give to God what belongs to God. Some would argue that the new coins are belong to the government and they would be right. The government minted and issued them into circulation. Others will argue that the coins belong to God, in fact “the earth is the Lord’s and everything in it.” (Psalm 24:1) They are right, too. But maybe God is not so much concerned with what’s inscribed on our coins as He is with what we do with them. Do we spend money selfishly? Do we give generously to those in need? Do we rob God?

God raised the question through the prophet Malachi: "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' "In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse--the whole nation of you--because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe (the first tenth, or 10%) into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. (Malachi 3:6-11)

I think this is another case of Christians missing the point. God is not so much concerned with what the secular government prints on its money as He is how His children manage the possessions He provides and entrusts to us. The average American spends something like 2% of their income on charitable causes. Maybe it’s time to get priorities straight and address our own materialism and greed rather than focusing on what the government prints on the coins it issues. We cannot direct the God-entrusted resources to meet the appropriate need if we are using them to indulge our own selfish desires.

~ Father, help me to realize that it’s not “my money”, but Yours. Help me to put Your teachings into practice about how to manage the resources You’ve entrusted to me. Help me to have an open heart and open hand when I encounter people in need of both physical and spiritual resources. Amen.