- Money is not the most important thing in life. Do our kids know how to have a good time when we are not buying them fun? Can we laugh and enjoy each other’s company even during times of financial difficulty? Do our kids see us involved in ministry and other activities that matter for eternity, not just for profit?
- Money is very important in life. If not, then why are there over 2,000 verses in the New Testament about finances and possessions? Money is not evil, only the love of it. God gives it to us and has offered a lot of instruction on how to handle it. Teaching stewardship begins with modeling stewardship. Our example is something our kids will remember for the rest of their lives.
- Money doesn’t grow on trees. That’s not just a phrase our parents told us and we told our parents. It’s a concept every kid needs to learn. But it is a concept we’ll never teach if we do not learn to say “No.”
- Credit cards are not a method to purchase items you can’t afford. Kids only know what they see, and they see everyone swiping a card. Going in debt is far too easy in our society. They’ll only learn to buy what they can afford if we have deliberate, specific conversations with them about money.
- Money comes from having a job. This is opposed to stealing, begging, or relying on handouts. Perhaps you’ve never considered this, but developing a hard work ethic in your children is a means of teaching them biblical stewardship. It’s the Proverbs 6:6-8 principle. If they learn a hard work ethic, they will enter adulthood far more prepared than most of their peers.
- Money belongs to God, not me. Believers have made Christ the Lord over their entire lives. We are managers, not owners of our finances. Remind your children of the Scripture’s stewardship principles, and protect them from developing a self-centered attitude about money. When your children are old enough to start working and begin accumulating a sizable bank account, give them a book that teaches godly principles of stewardship. If you are in the family God, obedience to His commands– even involving finances – should not be optional.
- Money should be tithed to God. Are these optional in your home? “Look both ways before you cross the street.” “Brush your teeth. “Take a bath.” “Do your homework.” Probably not. So if we require these temporal disciplines, then why not develop a discipline with eternal rewards. After all, to let our kids earn money and not require tithing equates to teaching them to steal from God (See Malachi 3:8).
- Money should be spent wisely on purchases. Don’t let kids pay inflated prices for a product. That’s not biblical stewardship. Help them research what is needed to make a wise purchase, and teach them why something is or is not a good buy.
- Don’t give money to people who beg for it. Kids have a tender heart, and they can be easily manipulated. Teach them that stewardship includes discernment in our giving, not just our spending. If we make emotional decisions about our money, we’ll not have the funds God wants us to have to provide for our families and give to His ministry.
- Share money with others, responsibly. With their parent’s guidance, children can learn the joy of giving by spending their own money for a good cause, like purchasing a card for a sick friend, a toy for a friend’s birthday, or a snack for the neighborhood kids. Remember, giving them the money to buy for someone else only teaches them that mom and dad value sharing.
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Thriving in Truth 
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