Parenting God’s Wayናሙና

Areas for Successful Parenting: Finances

God’s Word has much to say about how we’re to handle money. One of the best things you can do for your children is to instill in them a healthy, godly view of financial resources. 

Most people are familiar with 1 Timothy 6:10: “The love of money is the root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” A covetous attitude toward money is disastrous. Verse 9 teaches that those who seek to become rich will “plunge […] into ruin and destruction.” Jesus warned that “you cannot serve both God and money,” because “you will hate the one and love the other” (Luke 16:13 NIV). An uncontrolled desire for wealth is simply incompatible with love for God, and Scripture provides no means of softening this stark truth. The division of mind described by Jesus is not sustainable. As wealth competes with God for our devotion, one of them will triumph, and the other will be despised. While God may choose to bestow blessings of financial success, such gifts are to be received with gratitude and great caution so that they don’t draw our hearts away from God.

As you teach your children about finances, always lead them to transfer their attention away from material objects and focus on “things above”—spiritual principles and godly fruit. When they appear overly-dazzled by the things of this world, gently remind them of the words of Jesus: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth … but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven … for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt. 6:19-21). Make this transfer of attention an ongoing practice for you and your children so that your family’s attitude toward money won’t become corrupted by the desire to accumulate things. Hearts fixed on things of the Spirit—devotion to God, obedience, charity, brotherly love—are hearts that have their treasure in heaven, and will seek to utilize material wealth in pursuit of those things.

We’re also commanded in Scripture to return 10 percent of our increase to God (Lev. 27:30), and doing so is important not only to Him but also to us. Tithing requires faith and obedience. Done consistently, it increases our ability to let go of our finances and preserves us from developing an ungodly attachment to material things. Introduce your children to this practice by teaching them to tithe when they receive their allowance or monetary gifts from family. Tithing in this way will teach your children to give back when they’ve received. It’ll teach them that God always comes first. And a heart turned toward the Lord in love, and not toward money or material objects, will give joyfully, please God, and reap many blessings.

Digging Deeper

1. Where is my own heart when it comes to the words of Matthew 6:19-21? Have I been slipping into the habit of storing up for myself treasures on earth? If so, what are some practical steps I can take today to correct this inclination in myself and my children.

2. Have I been tithing my family’s income diligently? What are some examples I can share with my children to show them how God’s faithfully poured out His blessings for us because of our obedience?

3. How can I help my children practice wise financial stewardship? For example, what can I do to help them spend carefully today so that they don’t allow debt to become their lifestyle later?