Relationship matter! Including, and especially, our inanimate relationships. In the past two weeks, we’ve talked about our relationships with food and time.
Today, let’s talk about our relationship with money and why it matters for your family.
MONEY
Here are 3 life-changing money principles that I’d encourage every Christian parent to teach and to live by.
1. Contentment = Great Gain
“Godliness with contentment is great gain.” I Timothy 6:6
Learn to live your life in the moment with this mindset, “God has given me enough.”
And if God blesses you with more, which he likely will, the mindset stays the same. Contentment is the ability to live in the moment with the mindset of “enough.”
I’m all for getting new things and more things as God allows, but I never want my kids to think that their dad can never be content because he’s always after “the next big thing.”
When God blesses us with some of those nice things we want, or when he doesn’t, we still give him the glory. Because as long as we have food and clothing, God promises that contentment can be ours. (I Timothy 6:8)
When godliness (Christlikeness) is our highest priority, there is great gain in living a life of contentment, including greater happiness and gratitude for what we already have.
And one of the best benefits—content parents are always more likely to raise content kids.
2. Consistency = Financial Success
“He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.” Proverbs 10:4
Financial consistency in these three areas leads to success.
- Spend money wisely. Thomas Jefferson said these wise words, “Never spend your money before you have it.”
- Save money intentionally. Benjamin Franklin wisely said these famous words, “A penny saved is a penny earned.”
- Serve with money generously. Dave Ramsey put it this way, “Outrageous generosity is a character quality of people who win with money.”
When our kids were young, they all had their three jars for saving, giving, and spending. This is so simple yet foundational for kids to learn the basic principles of financial consistency in these areas at a young age.
To expect our children to enter adulthood and automatically know how to manage money wisely without giving them opportunities to manage it while under our care puts them at a terrible disadvantage.
3. Compassion = God’s Currency
“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth… But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.” -Matthew 6:19-20
Greed is condemned throughout Scripture. The opposite of greed is generosity.
Even though money helps, remember that you don’t have to have extra money in order to live generously. Generosity is a lifestyle—a choice far more than just a dollar amount or an income level.
If you are a Christian, God has called you to a life of generosity. This involves not only how we use our money, but ultimately how we live our lives. In addition to our financial generosity, how are our kids seeing us give to the poor, care for the needy, and minister to the weak and hurting?
“Money is but one venue for generosity. Kindness is an even more valuable currency.” -Alen Cohen
So, as you compare your financial life with these three C’s—Contentment, Consistency, and Compassion… How are you doing with money? Could you make any adjustments to honor God in greater ways through your family’s finances?
“Charge them that are rich in this world… that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate.” -I Timothy 6:17-18
For the next generation,
Andrew
