Raising Money-Wise Kids: A Parent's Guide to Biblical Money ValuesНамуна

Today we are looking at five lessons that'll have your little ones on a path to financial freedom!

1: Encourage a strong work ethic.

Proverbs 12:11 tells us, "Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies have no sense."

One simple way to do this is to give your kids some age-appropriate chores and reward them for their hard work. When you do, they'll learn that money is earned through their honest efforts and not just whenever they think they need it.

2: The value of saving and delayed gratification.

In a world where instant gratification is the name of the game, Proverbs 21:20 reminds us, "The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down."

Encourage your kids to set aside some of their money for saving, and help them set goals for things they want to buy in the future. This is an invaluable skill that will help them for the rest of their lives.

3: Generosity.

2 Corinthians 9:6-7 says, "Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."

Let's encourage our kids to give a portion of their money to church, charity, and those in need. If they learn the joy of giving early on, it’s much more likely to stick with them into adulthood.

4: Distinguishing between needs and wants.

Philippians 4:19 reminds us, "And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus."

Let's help our kids understand the difference between essential needs and extra wants, and encourage them to prioritize their spending.

Part of what we realized with our kids is that they had no concept of what anything costs… or even that everything has a cost!

At first, we were a little annoyed every time we passed Chick-Fil-A and they wanted to get food, but then we realized they didn’t understand.

So we started explaining how much things cost and how us, as their parents, have to choose between eating out every day, or paying bills.

We told them how our first priority was our bills and what they were and how we all benefitted from them. Then, we shared that we get to use extra for the fun things.

They now understand that wanting something is ok, but we always make sure to take care of our needs first.

Which lead us to our next lesson…

5: Introduce the concept of budgeting and living within one's means.

Luke 14:28-30 says, "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won't you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, 'This person began to build and wasn't able to finish.'"

Help your kids create a simple budget and teach them to make informed decisions about spending and saving. It’s important to let your kids choose how to spend their money and learn this lesson while you’re able to help them understand their choices.

By putting these practical lessons into action, we'll equip our kids with the tools they need to manage their money wisely.

And tomorrow, we'll explore how to foster a heart of gratitude and trust in God – the foundation for true financial peace.