​How to spend your year-end bonus

Okay, so I am not really going to tell you how to spend your year-end bonus, but I do want to get you thinking about how you should spend your money in general and that would include any extra income that comes in at year’s end. If you’re a Christian, you may have learned that all your financial resources are a gift from God and that you are to act as a steward of those resources. That sounds spiritual enough, but just what does it mean? It means we ought to spend our money as God would want.
 
When I look at Scripture, I see God wanting us to spend our money in three ways:

• We are to use our money to care for our family, including our extended family. Their care should not fall on others if we have the means to do so ourselves. So strong is God’s admonition in this regard that we are said to have denied the faith and be worse than unbelievers if we don’t do so (1 Timothy 5:8).
• We are to give our money to help the poor. Jesus said this (Luke 12:33), the early church did this (Acts 2:45; 4:34), and true religion is defined by this (James 1:27).
• We are to give to those who have dedicated their lives to sharing Christ with others. This includes those from whom you receive a direct benefit—perhaps your pastor/church or a radio/podcast teacher you listen to frequently. It also includes those who are pushing the boundaries of the kingdom by taking the Good News to those who have yet to embrace it (1 Corinthians 9:3-14; Galatians 6:6).

 
That’s pretty simple, isn’t it? Use your money to care for your family, help the poor, and build the kingdom. None of this is meant to undermine the wisdom associated with saving for a later need or being careful that our giving doesn’t create an undue dependency; it simply gives a basic framework of how we are to act as stewards of the money that God has entrusted to us.
 
Through the years, my wife and I have given to many. More often than not we give on a regular basis as this helps those we support with cash flow and also keeps us reminded of those to whom we give. We also, however, tend to give extra at year’s end. You probably do too. Maybe thinking through the grid above will make that year-end process a little less confusing and little more purposeful, and even help you know what to do with that year-end bonus.