Benjamin Franklin once noted, “In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” While I don’t necessarily agree, his quote seems appropriate this week.

April 17^th was a red-letter day…and not in a good way, unless perhaps you are receiving a tax refund. But even that isn’t really good news, since it means the government had use of your money all year, interest free.

This is the time of year when many of us reexamine our financial plans, that is, if we even had a financial plan. But financial issues have plagued us for centuries. In an essay first published in 1758, good ol’ Ben Franklin had a few bits of wisdom that still apply today…

Spending:

“What use is this pride of appearance, for which so much is suffered. It cannot promote health, nor ease pain: it hastens misfortune.”

Saving:

“If you would be wealthy, think of saving, as well as of getting. Away then, with your expensive follies, and you will not have then so much reason to complain of hard times.”

Debt:

“When you run into debt, you give to another power over your liberty.”

Managing our money includes learning how to receive it (working with integrity), how to give it (understanding God owns it all, anyway), and how to spend it (realizing we are merely stewards of our resources). Much like a three-legged stool, if any of the three are improper or missing, the result is instability or failure.

Tax-time is unpleasant, but if it motivates us to manage our finances in line with our spiritual identity in Christ, then it’s worth it!

For help managing finances, explore:

Crown Financial Ministries

Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University 

Ron Blue’s Master Your Money

What tips can you suggest for biblical financial management?