Money Basics For KidsSample

“You know Mom,” Alaysha said, “I thought when you were a grownup you could just buy whatever you wanted. Now I see you can’t spend money without thinking first. To get money you have to work for it. Or someone else has to work and give it to you.”

“Right. So, you want to talk about this new bike now?”

“I don’t understand! I thought this whole money lecture was your way of saying no—no new bike. Now you’re saying yes?”

Her mother laughed, “I don’t want to say yes or no. I want us to practice thinking through decisions together. Let’s start by figuring out whether the bike is worth the cost.”

When you’re thinking about a difficult decision, it helps to compare the cost to the benefits. Jesus even suggested people do this before following him. In Luke 14:27-33 Jesus points out that both kings and builders figure out whether they are willing to pay the cost before starting projects. Why not do the same for all important decisions?

On one side of a piece of paper write down all the benefits of a specific decision. On the other side write down all the costs. It might be a dollar amount, or it might be something apart from money. For example, the benefits to buying a new bike might include: fitting in with other people, getting more exercise, and feeling safer. The costs to buying a new bike might include: spending extra time on housework as pay back, missing out on time with friends, and disappointment when you want a new thing later. Writing everything down helps you see the options more clearly.

There is something else to consider—the spiritual costs and benefits of each decision. Giving money away to people in need has huge spiritual benefits. Your faith in God increases and when you give generously, you’ll find you have less stress about your other money decisions.

Try this: Parents and kids, make a cost-benefit analysis of a decision you’re considering. If you need to choose between different options, make a cost-benefit analysis for each option and then compare them. What did your analysis show you?

Prayer: God, I want to follow you, in all my decisions. Thank you for being a worthy guide. Amen.

If you enjoyed this plan, find more plans from the Theology of Work Project at www.theologyofwork.org/devotions