Living In The Light

May 16, Parents To Train Children In Proper Budgeting

Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
—Hebrews 12:11 LL 146.1

Parents should be an example to their children in the expenditure of money. There are those who, as soon as they get money, spend it for dainties to eat, or for needless adornments of dress, and when the supply of money becomes reduced, they feel the need of that which they have wasted. If they have an abundant income, they use every dollar of it; if small, it is not sufficient for the habits of extravagance they have acquired, and they borrow to supply the demand. They gather from any source possible to meet their fancied necessities. They become dishonest and untruthful, and the record that stands against them in the books of heaven is such as they will not care to look upon in the day ofJudgment. . . . LL 146.2

It is not necessary to specify here how economy may be practiced in every particular. Those whose hearts are fully surrendered to God, and who take His Word as their guide, will know how to conduct themselves in all the duties of life. They will learn ofJesus, who is meek and lowly of heart; and in cultivating the meekness of Christ they will close the door against innumerable temptations. LL 146.3

They will not be studying how to gratify appetite and the passion for display, while so many cannot even keep hunger from the door. The amount daily spent in needless things, with the thought, “It is only a nickel,” “It is only a dime,” seems very little; but multiply these littles by the days of the year, and as the years go by, the array of figures will seem almost incredible. LL 146.4

The Lord has been pleased to present before me the evils which result from spendthrift habits, that I might admonish parents to teach their children strict economy. Teach them that money spent for that which they do not need, is perverted from its proper use. He that is unfaithful in that which is least, would be unfaithful in much. If men and women are unfaithful with earthly goods, they cannot be entrusted with the eternal riches.— Christian Temperance and Bible Hygiene , pp. 62, 63. LL 146.5

Further Reflection: : What are some ways in which you can demonstrate smart budgeting to your children and those entrusted to your care? LL 146.6