Financial Literacy

The child is still small and needs to play and explore the world, and it's not worth filling their head with such complex issues and depriving them of their childhood. But it should be noted that our world and our entire life are connected to money, they are everywhere and without them, like without water, you can't go this way or that way. Money is not a goal, not a meaning and not even happiness in life, but the ability to earn and spend them, the ability to manage them and the ability not to live in debt, as well as knowledge about what they are, will protect your children from many troubles and disappointments.

Some parents are actually ignorant in financial literacy and don't stress about money, but the closer we get to the finale of world history, the more expensive our life becomes, and the less personal money we have. No one is surprised by such words as inflation, financial crisis, price increases, but this shouldn't be - these are artificial events aimed at making the poor even poorer and the rich even richer.

Poverty and wealth are not high or low income, but a state of mind and the ability to wisely possess money, considering all possibilities and risks.

God desires to have a wise people in all respects and we cooperate with God when we teach children to live according to God's principles, explain to them the advantages of wisdom over ignorance and plant in their pure minds seeds of truth and reasonableness. The time will come when they will leave the cozy nest of parental care and begin to create their own nests and their own world, independent of you. But what you gave them, what you taught them, what you sowed in them, will help them build their life and manage their home.

Financial literacy is an important skill that should begin to be instilled in children from early years. It helps not only in money management, but also in forming such qualities as honesty, wisdom, responsibility, patience, generosity, reasonableness, independence, the ability to live in abundance and be content with little. The Bible gives many instructions and examples about how to build business financial relationships and be faithful to God. It doesn't teach that wealth is sin, but openly declares that love of money is the root of all evil (1Tim.6:10).

It's also important to know the truth that even very large amounts of money do not give a person complete independence and freedom. Jesus gives freedom, and independence depends more on personal agriculture and an accessible source of clean water and strong health than on big zeros in the bank.

Educational schools do not teach children financial literacy, so this task lies with parents and does not free them from responsibility in this matter. This is quite a lengthy process and although it doesn't take much time, it is quite extensive and deep, both in theoretical and practical approach. It would be good for parents to have a thick notebook to record the basics and principles of financial literacy in it over many years and refresh in children's memory the passed lessons of faithfulness and frugality.

An entrepreneur is one who undertakes something, studies something and tries something. This is one who decides on something and in many cases goes by faith, not by sight. Become entrepreneurs in teaching your children important sciences and the result at the output will be much better than you expect and imagine.

God is the True Owner of this world and all its riches. He is the Beginning and Source of all wisdom and knowledge. Without Him everything becomes vanity, and with Him everything finds meaning. Therefore, like any other matter - everything should begin with prayer and recognition that I have nothing, but He has everything, whose throne is Heaven, and the Earth is His footstool (Is.66:1).

We read in Hag 2:8: "The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts." So let us turn to the True Owner and receive everything necessary for life and knowledge.

In school, in mathematics lessons they teach to add and multiply, divide and subtract. What your child will choose from this depends on what management principles you put into their mind.

Gratitude is the first lesson that the child must learn.

They must understand that everything material in their life is not self-evident, but someone's mercy and care for them. With their words and prayers of gratitude, parents give lessons that they themselves receive everything from above and depend on God's mercy and generosity. Although children are not obligated to thank their parents for their love and care, the personal example of grateful father and mother forms a grateful spirit in children as well. And verses from the Bible on this topic create something very important and useful in the child's mind. We read in 1Thes 5:18: "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

Don't be afraid to read the Bible to children, even if much seems complex for children's understanding. The Holy Spirit conveys to the child's mind and imagination much more than we imagine, and it will be much easier for God to remind what was heard than what a person doesn't know.

Of course, at 3 years old it will be difficult for a child to understand the structure of cryptocurrency and the influence of interest rates on the world economy, but through simple games with commodity exchange, generosity, reasonableness they will very quickly understand the basics of financial relationships and take first steps in the sphere of entrepreneurship.

Children quickly notice that even virtual acquisitions of useful and interesting toys gladden the heart and are a more interesting event than the absence of such.

The next lesson is the formation of generosity, in which the correct attitude toward money and its purpose is laid. Through their self-sacrifice and comments on good deeds, parents teach their offspring that to give and share, to serve someone with their means and goods is God's gift to man, which the Lord Himself constantly demonstrates in all His care for the world. Not all children easily assimilate these lessons, but the purposefulness of parents has strong influence and brings good results. It is characteristic for the child's selfish heart to take everything, take away and keep for themselves. They simply don't know how and don't know other means of communication with the world, and this should not be feared. "It is more blessed to give than to receive" Acts 20:35.

Generosity and self-sacrifice gladden the heart and bring happiness to the soul of every person.

Frugality is what teaches the child to be careful in handling toys and things, and also gives understanding that by setting aside small means, you can gather large treasures and acquire more valuable things. We read in Prov.21:20: "There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up."

Responsibility in relation to real money is an important instruction that forms in the child's consciousness the difference between the virtual world and reality. Children, seeing how you can acquire many desired and tasty things with real money, begin to understand the true value of cash, but here arises a task for parents to correctly and timely convey lessons of reasonableness and frugality, that not everything that is sold is useful and necessary.

And this is only the beginning.

1. Please read James 1:17; Prov.6:6-8; 10:22; 22:2; Ps.49:10-12; 2Cor.9:6-7; Luke 6:38; 16:10; Eccl.7:12; Matt.6:19-21, in light of this chapter.

2. What other verses from the Bible came to your mind?

3. What did you understand from this chapter?

4. Should one, while laying the foundation of truth in the child's heart, remember the words of warning from Mal.3:14-18?

5. Who is the true Owner of all riches in the world? How does understanding that God is the True Owner of riches influence the attitude toward money?

6. How does the Bible relate to wealth and poverty?

7. Why can the ability to manage money protect a child from disappointments?

8. What does "poverty and wealth are a state of mind" mean?

9. Why is gratitude considered an important lesson for children?

10. What spiritual principles underlie financial literacy?

11. Why do parents bear responsibility for children's financial education?

12. What qualities need to be cultivated in a child so they learn to live in contentment? 1Tim.6:6.

13. What dangers does love of money bring with it?

14. Why is personal independence more connected to agriculture and water than to large amounts of money?