When I was a little girl, I remember being very upset because my mom told me she could not buy me what I asked for. She told me that she did not have the money to pay for it and that “money does not grow on trees!”
Well, of course I knew that money did not grow on trees. How weird would that be? But I did not understand why she could not get me what I wanted. Now I know that my mom only had a certain amount of money and that she could not spend it all on me. She had to be careful about how she spent her money.
Do you have a bank—a bottle, a pig, or some other fun shape that you keep full of coins? A bank is a safe place to keep your money and helps you to save it. You may not have a job yet, and you may not have a lot of money right now, but starting to think about how you spend your money is still a good idea.
In Matthew 6:21 Jesus says, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” This means that you will spend your money on the things that mean the most to you—the things you value. What means the most to you? When you earn money for doing a special job or even as a gift, do you spend it all right away? What do you buy?
There is nothing wrong with buying fun things, but be sure that that is not all you use your money for. Think about others, your future, and God when you have to decide how to spend your money. The money you have is not yours; it belongs to God. He gave it to you and He wants you to be smart in how you use it.
Dear God, when I earn money or receive it as a gift, help me to remember that You gave it to me for a reason. Help me to practice being wise in how I spend. In Jesus’s name, amen.
Here is a good way to be sure that you are on the right track when spending your money!
1. Give to God first through your church or by asking God to show you who you might help with the money He has given you.
2. Save some for later. You never know when you might need something.
3. Spend a little on yourself! But not until after you have made sure to put God first and your future second. It is always more fun to get a treat when you know you were wise with the money God gave you.