Ministry Connections: Stewardship
by Dick Towner

Volume 14 Issue 2, 2007

Children at the (Financial) Crossroads

A number of articles I’ve seen lately reference the growing materialism among children and youth. No small wonder since a Wall Street Journal article recently pointed out that on Whyville.net, a virtual world attracting some two million kids ages 8 to 15, kids can now buy a virtual Scion automobile or meet with a virtual loan officer to finance one.

Among stewardship leaders that I interact with, there is grave concern over the state of both practical and biblical financial education of children and young people. The ramifications manifest themselves in some alarming statistics:

• Children spend five times as much money, adjusted for inflation, as their parents did at their age.
• College students have an average of four credit cards and an average credit card debt of $3000.
• Young adults are the fastest growing segment of the population declaring bankruptcy.

I’m told that the goal of the advertising community is to establish brand loyalty in children as young as 2-years-old, and that a young person may be subject to as many as2,000 ad impressions a day. It’s not surprising that children and youth are a key target of advertising since they will spend and influence spending of an estimated $1 trillion dollars this year!

The Christian perspective on our financial resources is that they’ve been entrusted to us by God to be used in ways that reflect generosity, wisdom, and contentment. In the face of today’s cultural messages, how do we teach that to our children and youth? The answer, of course, could be a book rather than a brief column but here are a few thought starters:

• Recognize that the greatest teacher is your example. Hard to hear for some of us, but it’s true and needs to be said. For our kids’ sake, if not our own, let’s get better in this area. If your church does not have a stewardship ministry that provides teaching and training in this area, insist they create one (and the Good $ense ministry will be glad to assist).
• Be intentional about this — God-honoring management of your resources is one of the greatest legacies you can give your children. Talk about it; share what things cost and how you make financial decisions; tell them about poor choices you have made and the consequences.
• Talk with other parents, share ideas, set group guidelines so your child can’t say, “Everyone else wears this or spends that” when you know the Smith, Jones, and Towner kids don’t!
• Check out the Starbury collection of sportswear. Last fall Stephen Marbury, an NBA star who grew up in Brooklyn with parents who struggled to provide for seven children, introduced a sportswear line — the most expensive item of which is a pair of basketball shoes for $14.98! I’m told retailers are having a hard time keeping items in stock.

A final word. Remember it’s not just about helping our children avoid the financial stresses and conflict of poor money management but it’s also about their spiritual well being — where their hearts will be (Matt. 6:21) and whom they will serve (Matt. 6:24). The stakes are very, very high.

Dick Towner is the executive director of the Good $ense stewardship ministry for the Willow Creek Association

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