179 - 3 BIG Reasons You DON'T WANT a Tax Refund - Encore Edition

We’re revisiting a topic that touches so many American’s wallets: tax refunds. While a big check might feel like a blessing, we’re unpacking why it may not be as helpful—or as wise—as it seems.

Could that extra cash be masking deeper issues with planning, stewardship, and financial alignment?

We’ll take a look at what scripture says about managing our resources and how your approach to taxes can either support or hinder a life of God-honoring stewardship. Let’s explore a lesser-walked path forward—one marked by clarity, wisdom, and freedom.

In this episode, John discusses:

• The hidden financial drawbacks of tax refunds
• How cultural messages shape our money decisions
• The connection between faithful stewardship and tax planning
• Biblical principles applied to everyday financial choices

Key Takeaways:

• When you overpay your taxes and look forward to a refund, you're essentially handing the government an interest-free loan, tightening your cash flow and limiting your ability to meet everyday needs.
• Depending on a refund to cover major expenses often points to weaker financial planning, but proactively estimating your tax liability throughout the year helps you stay prepared.
• Optimizing your tax withholdings allows you to keep more of your income throughout the year, creating space for more purposeful, productive use of your money.
• Rather than letting your refund be influenced by marketing messages and then disappear into impulse buys, choosing to allocate it to help you live with more intention and faithful financial discipline will pay BIG dividends!

“I love the way the Bible stresses the importance in the scripture I just shared about honoring civic responsibilities, and that includes paying taxes as a part of wise and faithful financial stewardship.” 

Resources Mentioned:

• CNBC Story on How Americans plan to spend tax refunds: https://www.cnbc.com/2024/03/06/how-americans-plan-to-spend-tax-refunds

• IRS Tax Withholding Estimator: https://apps.irs.gov/app/tax-withholding-estimator

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Ready to dig deeper into what's really influencing you and your money?

Let's connect the beliefs that are behind your choices - the financial, spiritual, and personal ones - so that you can be the faithful steward of the resources God has entrusted to you.

At Money Made Faithful, we want to equip you with the truths, models, and practices so you can make better money choices so you can live more boldly, confidently, and faithfully.


God is too good and life is too special to let money hold you back.