I was playing with my boys when one of their toys broke. My oldest said, “That’s okay—just order another one on Amazon,” and he handed me my phone! That’s when I realized I needed to explain things like needs versus wants, stewardship, and … well, money in general.
What the Bible Says About Money
Does God’s Word have anything to say about money? Actually, yes, quite a bit. And it’s more relevant today than ever. In a world where money is everywhere yet also invisible and intangible, how do we teach our kids about using money in a God-pleasing way?
Here are four helpful categories you can use to discuss what the Bible says about money: greed, gratitude, generosity, and discernment.
Greed
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. (1 Timothy 6:10)
Greed, envy, and covetousness are mentioned often in the Scriptures. It’s important to note that it is the love of money, not money itself, that is the problem. Money has no inherent moral standing. We can use money to do great good, or we can use it to do great evil. So the Bible warns us against idolizing money and making it more important than God. Greed isn’t so much about how much money or how much stuff you have. It’s about your heart. It’s about what you trust most: God or money.
We can start talking about greed with our kids early on. Consider these conversation starters:
- “Do we need that item, or do we just want it? Can we wait until your birthday instead?”
- “Remember that we find our ultimate joy in Jesus, not in our stuff.”
- “Just because your friend has something doesn’t mean you need it too. We trust God to give us everything we need.”
Gratitude
Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for [God] has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)
This is the heart of gratitude and something we can teach our kids early on. We have more than enough in Jesus, who died on the cross to give us forgiveness and eternal life. He provides for us, forgives us when we are greedy, and grows contentment in our heart.
We can teach our kids about godly gratitude by making thankfulness a part of our daily rhythm:
- Thank God before meals.
- Go around your home and list things you are thankful for.
- Say things like, “We thank God for Mommy’s and Daddy’s jobs that provide money for our family. We thank God for a reliable vehicle and a safe home. God gives us everything we need.”
- When your child gets a gift, write thank-you cards, and help them take care of the things they have as good stewards.
Generosity
God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7)
My boys love putting the offering in the plate on Sunday mornings. But I’ve realized that I need to explain what they are doing and why. Here are a few talking points you can use to talk about generosity:
- “Our offering pays for pastors to preach God’s Word to us. It pays for the church building, for Bibles, and for missionaries to tell other people about Jesus too!”
- “We’re putting these cans in the blessing box to help feed people who are hungry.”
- “God wants us to share our blessings with others. Let’s donate a few toys to other kids who might enjoy them.”
Discernment
Honor the LORD with your wealth. (Proverbs 3:9)
God’s Word talks often about the value of hard work, honoring God with our possessions, and being good stewards of what we have. Discernment is about prayerfully deciding how we want our money to be used for our families and the church in the future. It’s about making wise decisions with the things God has given to us.
Here are two ideas that you can adapt based on your kids’ ages:
- Give your kids a budget to pay for a birthday present for their sibling. Help them discern what would be a good purchase.
- Start talking about saving their money. Discuss the categories of spend, save, and tithe when they get money for a birthday or allowance.
As we adults repent of our greed, grow in gratitude, learn to be generous, and discern how to be good stewards of God’s gifts to us, we can teach our kids along the way. We can turn to God’s Word as the source of wisdom for all parts of our lives, including for our money.
Scripture: ESV®.
Dig into topics like money, generosity, stewardship, and coveting this month with the Everyday Faith Calendar. Each day features a Bible reading and a prayer prompt for your family.
