PODCAST TRUE RICHES #6 Training Children

Training Children

Each generation is responsible for passing on the truths of Scripture, including God’s financial

principles, to its children. “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not

turn from it” (Proverbs 22:6). Every child needs to learn God’s way of handling money.

1. How to Teach

We use three methods to teach children.

A. Teach verbally.

“These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on

your children. Talk about them when you walk along the road, when you lie down and

when you get up” (Deuteronomy 6:6-7).

B. Teach by example.

Parents and other adults need to be models of how to handle money faithfully. “Follow

my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). We only reproduce

what we actually do. “A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully

trained will be like his teacher” (Luke 6:40).

C. Teach by involvement.

Children need opportunities to apply what they have heard and seen. Allow them to earn

and spend so they will experience how God’s financial principles work.

2. What to teach

A. How to give

Teach your children to:

• Recognize that God owns everything.

• Give to fund the work of God.

• Give willingly to help those in need.

B. How to save

The habit of saving should be established as soon as a child begins to receive an income.

C. How to spend wisely

Establish spending boundaries and offer advice, while giving children the freedom to

choose.

D. How to stay out of debt

Teach what the Bible says about debt and encourage them avoid it.

E. How to work

Teach that God designed work for our benefit and that we actually work for Christ.

Therefore, we should work hard and honor the Lord by being excellent in whatever we

do. Begin by allowing children to have work responsibilities in the household.

IV. Eternity

1. Life on earth is brief.

“What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes” (James 4:14).

2. Number your days on earth.

“The length of our days is seventy years—or eighty, if we have the strength...Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of

wisdom” (Psalm 90:10, 12).

Value each day you have left on earth, keeping in mind that none of us has a certainty of even one more day.

3. God will judge everyone according to his or her deeds.

“For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat...So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God” (Romans 14:10-12).

A. All believers in Christ, although spending eternity with the Lord in Heaven, will gain or lose eternal rewards.

“Work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light...the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss” 1 Corinthians 3:13-15.

B. Our works are what we have done with our time, skills, money and possessions during our life on earth. Today’s sacrifices and service for Christ will result in rewards you will enjoy forever.

4. Our daily choices determine what happens in the future.

“Man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).

We only live on this earth once. There is no such thing as reincarnation. What we do in this life is of eternal importance. When we are face to face with Christ and look back on our life, we’ll want to see that the

things in which we invested our time and money are big things to the Lord.

V. Summary

God wants us to be completely honest. Every honest decision we make strengthens our faith. The

Bible gives us a remedy when we have been dishonest.

Children need to learn God’s way of handling money, and God has given us the responsibility of

teaching them.

God created us to be in relationship with Him. Our sin broke that relationship and separated us

from Him. Through faith in Jesus Christ, we can receive the forgiveness, the restoration of our

relationship and eternal life with God.