I remember the news stories about the government paying $120 per toilet seat and hear all the time from government and military employees about large amounts of waste, and I became quite cynical over time.

God started to point out to me that I should only be concerned about what I can (or will make an effort to) control. In the process, I’m starting this list of tips how we can help our government wherever we are in the world to spend our tax dollars wisely through the power of Christ – feel free to add your own.

1. Treat my Taxes as I do my Tithe – When I tithe, I usually thank God for the blessings of my job and for what it provides to my family and pray that God bless it an multiply it for his work. Why not include God in all my spending? Wouldn’t I want God to be a part of every area of my finances? This was one of those “forehead-slappers” when I first heard about it. This could go even further – pray over my bills that they will be good stewards of the trust given to them by the customers, or even praying that the $4 chai tea latte I’m forking over for my beautiful wife (love you, baby!) will trickle down and be used for God’s glory. I will be more consistent praying over that money going out that God will bless it so the citizens of our country will be doers of his will.
2. Get More Friends in Celebrate Recovery = $200 billion saved yearly – I was reading an article that showed some statistics regarding our war on drugs. Despite the White House’s usual “Everything is perfect, there is nothing to see here, please disperse” views, that our nation is actually losing the war on drugs. Overdoses have actually skyrocketed in recent years. Part of this article mentioned that illicit drug use costs our nation $200 billion a year. If we add in abuse of alcohol and tobacco, that number rises to $500 billion. (heading off any “Can Christians Drink?” debate – I’m not saying we need to stop alcohol, just the abuse).

   I’d say that monetary figure is much higher because much of the drug abuse goes under the radar. For example, I worked in a law office when I first got out of school where nearly every woman over 30 was on prescription painkillers. How do you think that affects productivity? I used to be a serious boozer and though I could wait tables to meet company expectations, I did not perform anywhere near my fullest potential.

   The government battles drugs with its weapons – law enforcement and education. Both are limited in their scope. What we can do to participate is get friends and family turned onto programs like Celebrate Recovery.

   I realize this is easier said than done. Most people don’t go to Celebrate Recovery until they have a major meltdown and circumstances dictate. However, Celebrate Recovery is for much more than hopeless heroin addicts or alcoholics living on the street.

   Those who have hit “bottom” in an obvious way are a very SMALL proportion of the people that attend. For every one person that has an obvious issue, there are probably another 99 who have been able to cover their problems. Maybe they can do so indefinitely, but maybe they won’t. I actually hope they won’t, because usually someone else is being hurt besides themselves. (as if our own self-preservation and interest wouldn’t be enough reason to get help)

   Celebrate Recovery is a 12-step program based on the Bible – It’s very similar to other 12 step groups, except that it realizes the victory comes from Christ and not in our will over our bad choices. It also differs in that you will not always be in bondage to the sins in which you are embroiled. God provides victory and freedom. Speaking first-hand, Celebrate Recovery works. Do all 12 steps and I guarantee results – better than that, the Bible guarantees it.

   I went in to Celebrate Recovery for a host of compulsive issues that became obvious after God delivered me from alcoholism. As it turns out, the boozing wasn’t the core issue (though it caused plenty of damage). It was just evidence of a deeper problem. When I attacked the drinking, I removed a symptom, and other compulsive issues that were just under the surface of my conscious mind became more obvious and took its place in bondage over my life.

   Celebrate Recovery goes after the root and aligns participants with God’s will and Word to receive absolute freedom over the core issues that cause all their problems with anything from

   • Worry and Anger (They are actually two manifestations of the same problem)
   • Codependency (Many in CR have a friend or spouse that suffers from this)
   • Chemical abuse (drugs… prescription abuse counts, alcohol, smoking)
   • Sexual addictions (way beyond porn, prostitution, or other “deviant behaviors” – this covers issues that often slide under the radar such as lust or masturbation)
   • Food Addictions (anything from overeating to anorexia/bulimia)
   • Lying (stats showing how often people lie each day was shocking)
   • Much more

   I talk about CR all the time, but after what I’ve seen happen with the hundred or so people that participated in my church and from testimonials all across the nation, I have every confidence it would absolutely revolutionize the way societies function. Christ trumps every evil known to man.

   Check out the Celebrate Recovery website and ask around at local churches to see who has a program running. Even if you’re not a follower of Christ – I still recommend you go. Sit there and listen for a bit. See if what they are saying makes sense. There are plenty of people who don’t believe in Christ that attend either because they are required by the court, or just because they’ve tried everything else and noticed that people’s lives are actually changing over there and they want to see what they are doing that is different. Speaking from experience, I took a very intellectual approach to my various addictions and never found anything that even gave me a glimmer of hope for freedom… until CR.

There are tons of ways followers of Christ can help our government be better stewards of God’s financial resources. I gave you two, but let’s leave the list open. Towards the bottom of this page there is a comments form. Please submit any ideas you have.

Thanks & have a blessed day.

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