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Anna Reid Baer
Dr. Krause
GOVT200-B01
October 9, 2023
Economic Analysis
The COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected economies in many different countries
around the world. The United States was a country directly affected by the pandemic which led
to an economic crisis. The pandemic caused many businesses to temporarily be closed, many
people to lose their jobs, small businesses to struggle to stay afloat, supply chains to be
disrupted, people began to work their jobs remotely, and a lot of daily life activities turned
digital. Due to the economic plunge that the United States faced during the pandemic, the
government issued stimulus checks and other relief measures as financial aid for American
citizens. Although these financial relief policies were intended to positively impact society, many
citizens raised concerns about how they would affect the country’s debt and budget process and
how the government oversteps the biblical principle of being good stewards of money.
As a direct response to the economic chaos during the pandemic in the United States, the
government created monetary measures to stabilize the economy. These relief measures were
implemented in an effort to aid citizens and businesses as the economy shut down. The
Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, also known as CARES, was passed in
March 2020 which included financial aid for hospitals, businesses, and employees. This act also
included tax-qualifying adults and their children for $1200, plus $500 per child. Both
Republicans and Democrats agreed on the relief package to send three stimulus packages from
April 2020 to July 2021 to aid citizens in economic hardship. Essentially, CARES was a $2.2
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trillion stimulus package that increased the national debt and affected future budgeting.
Additionally, in 2021, The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act
was another relief measure of $900 billion and The American Rescue Plan of 2021 was a $1.9
trillion package. The Corona Virus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act is
similar to the CARES Act as it gives $600 per household and $600 per child. The American
Rescue Plan was meant for households that did not receive the first two stimulus packages and
provided payments of up to $2,800, plus $1,400 per dependent (Siles, n.d.). Although
policymakers created these support plans to help citizens financially, they will have a long-
lasting impact on the American economy and budget process. For years to come, the United
States budget process will require a large portion to be allocated to paying off these relief
packages. This can potentially limit the government’s ability to fund other services, and policy
decisions, and create a larger challenge for managing the debt. Subsequently, these relief acts led
to a substantial increase in the federal budget deficit due to the direct payments to individuals,
financial aid to industries, and unemployment benefits. The government will have to continue to
borrow additional funds to pay off the relief measures. The deficit spending caused by the relief
packages significantly contributed to the national debt and future budget process. Essentially, the
relief monetary measures extremely impacted the United States budget process by increasing
budget deficit and national debt, which led many citizens to be concerned with the long-term
financial health of the nation and the ignorance of biblical principles in times of crisis.
God calls Christians to be good stewards of money, which entails Christians to not be
greedy, to be wise with spending, and to work for their earnings and they will be blessed.
Stewardship is an essential biblical principle that God lays out in the Bible to teach us through
his word. Stewardship in the Bible is defined as exercising our God-give dominion over His
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creation, reflecting the image of our creator God in His care, responsibility, maintenance,
protection, and beautification of His creation (Sproul, 2023). Luke 14:28 states “For which of
you desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough
to complete it?” (ESV, 2001). This verse in Luke teaches Christians that we must be responsible
with money and take into consideration the cost of our desire, whether we have enough or not.
The Bible teaches that it is essential to consider how much money we have, before spending it on
something that costs more than we have. Being a good steward of money requires budgeting how
much we have and spending accordingly to avoid debt. The United States government has
completely overstepped this biblical principle as the national debt is around $33 trillion. The
United States is continuing to overstep the biblical principle of being a good steward of money as
the government continues to spend money without any plan of action for replenishing it.
Additionally, Luke 16:11 states “If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth,
who will entrust to you the true riches” which also aligns with the principle of stewardship (ESV,
2001). This verse teaches that if we are not responsible and faithful to reflecting His creation in
His image, how can we be enabled the privilege of His heavenly rewards? This includes being
reasonable and responsible with money as it can be a root of evil if used improperly. The United
States government represents the concept of money being the root of evil as it is a continual
problem in the country. The government’s budget process is continually advocating for paying
debt while also spending more and more, which is ultimately hurting the American economy and
society.
In essence, the biblical principle of stewardship calls for Christians to be wise and
responsible with the resources and creation entrusted by God. The biblical teachings of Luke
14:28 and 16:11 highlight the necessity of budgeting money and being faithful. Unfortunately,
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the United States government has strayed from the biblical principle of stewardship by obtaining
an astronomical national debt and a recurring pattern of deficit spending and ineffective
budgeting. The American government and citizens need to practice good stewardship of money
by being financially responsible, limiting spending, and considering the long-term consequences.
This will allow the country and citizens to follow God’s call to be good stewards of the resources
entrusted to us and ensure a sustainable and hopeful future for the nation.
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References
English Standard Version Bible. (2001). ESV Online. https://esv.literalword.com/
Marcelo Siles. (n.d.). Impact of the Coronavirus Stimulus Checks on the Economy. Julian
Samora Research Institute- Michigan State University.
https://jsri.msu.edu/publications/nexo/vol-xxv/no-1-fall-2021/impact-of-the-coronavirus-
stimulus-checks-on-the-economy
Sproul, R. C. (2023, September 29). What is Biblical Stewardship? Ligonier Ministries.
https://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/what-biblical-stewardship#:~:text=Fundamentally
%2C%20stewardship%20is%20about%20exercising,and%20beautification%20of
%20His%20creation.
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