“Dad and Mom.... I need some money!“ "Why?" These words echo throughout our society today. Finances can be an extremely stressful aspect of life. Marriages and families are threatened and health may be compromised by never having what is needed. Parents and grandparents should not be afraid to teach their children how to handle money, but they should not become the financial parachute for ongoing, unwise decisions and choices of their children. It is a great idea to give your offspring the opportunity to handle money on their own. There are some great books and video series available to encourage families to learn good financial principles; Financial Peace by Dave Ramsey. Never enough by Karen Guess and Ron Blue Principles for Finances by Crosswalk Teach them the importance of saving and to not presume on the future. Teach them the facts. In life, there will always be competing priorities. Life is the culmination of choices and decisions. The most important decisions and priorities are Spiritual. Do they know, love and honor Jesus? Is it more than words or is it a reality in their lives? One way to measure that honor is to look at their gifts and tithes to help them identify the true priorities in their lives. If they are born again believers they should know that everything they have belongs to God. The key to financial success is to identify in what and whom do you trust for your purpose and plans? Learn to give generously and ungrudgingly. It is good for you as well for your children to see it as an example. To be content while striving to improve by working hard is not an oxy moron. The work ethic is a Biblical concept, as is contentment. This Simple plan to financial security with whatever income you have now, as you grow your income. Work hard and with a goal in mind. Spend less than you earn. No matter what your income is, seek avenues to increase your income. Avoid debt like a plague. Making minimum payments to credit cards is financially life- threatening! Your credit scores are extremely important when it comes renting or buying a home. Give generously - Gods promises really do matter and he controls everything. He can extend the life on your tires as a "Thank You!" Our choices and attitudes matter. Spend your money wisely .. you belong to God and so does your money. Ask yourself; Does this please God? Save for the unexpected because I promise you there will be surprises in life. So keep your seat belt of faith on at all times. Think long term, don’t squander today, plan for a better tomorrow. Philippians 4:12-13 “Contentment is unattainable in a culture ruled by money, but is found in God”