FirstFruits Findings Nov. - Dec. 2003 FIRSTFRUITS FINDINGS Vol. 8 No. 5 A NOTE FROM THE DIRECTOR Being a faithful example to our kids is daunting, isn't it? Many times I have said to my wife, "I wish we could do it over again". My example of stewardship was my mother. I recall the jars in our house which contained money for groceries, school, giving, life insurance, etc. When I got my first job delivering The Muskegon Chronicle, my mom and I would count out the money and set aside the monies that would go to the newspaper. I would then pay my sisters who were frequent "substitute" delivery persons. With the money left over, we would first take 10% out for the church. A significant portion was also set aside for college. What was left, I could spend. Fortunately, my wife was raised in a home with similar values, so this was not a source of conflict in our marriage. We have in turn raised our kids the same way, and for the most part....it has stuck. I began by saying we've had regrets. One of them was that once I gave the 10%, the 90% was mine to spend as I wished. We must always hold up before our children, that ALL we have belongs to God. If there's ever an area in life that needs to be modeled to our kids, it is being a faithful steward because it touches all areas of our lives. Even though we may feel that we've not done everything "right", that should not discourage us from continually striving to be an example to our children. ~ Norm Vander Wel 7 HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE STEWARDS - HABIT #4 BE A FAITHFUL EXAMPLE This is the fourth in a series of seven in which we will reflect on the habits of a highly effective steward: Habit 1 - Be Thankful with an attitude of gratitude. Habit 2 - Trust God to provide for our needs. Habit 3 - Be Content in God's provision by understanding the difference between real needs, and wants and desires. Habit 4: Be a Faithful Example "These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." (Deut. 6: 6,7) If we are to be good models for our children, we as parents must have God's Word reflected in our own lives. Secondly, we need to be alert to the countless opportunities given us to teach our children a godly perspective on life, abilities, and possessions. Modeling good stewardship is the best teaching tool. Parents who tithe, save, live on a budget, minimize debt and give of their abilities and time to help others set an excellent example for their children. Start early. When children are old enough to receive an allowance, talk about their responsibility to give the first part back to God. Talk openly about tithing, why we do it and the good things that happen because we give. By the time kids are in high school or even middle school it is almost too late to begin teaching. By that time, their money habits are mostly set. While there is still opportunity at any age to teach them, we can better mold our children's behavior if we reach them before they start to practice. Look for ways to involve children in giving activities. Invite them to participate in the discussion of where to give and why. Talk about how good it feels to give to others. Explain how giving is really receiving and allow them the opportunity to experience that joy. Instilling a strong work ethic in our children is invaluable. Money doesn't just magically appear out of a bank machine, but is earned through work. Remember, a child cannot learn money management unless he has money to manage, and unless he has earned that money himself. Otherwise he is giving and spending his parents' money and not his. (Dynamic Steward, July 2003) Working for something also teaches the value of delayed gratification. There is greater reward in something that is achieved versus free handouts. Our children will grow up with more respect for the value of money and what is required to earn it. Over indulgence by parents destroys the need for initiative and motivation. As parents, we need to be patient and persistent. Let them fail. Mistakes are inevitable, but when you allow for failure you are entrusting your kids with responsibility. When we think of gifts, we usually think of material things. Yet, the greatest gift we can give is the gift of self. Don't forget to focus on time and abilities. We are all uniquely made and have much to share with others. . our experiences, our interests and our natural abilities. Family activities can include giving our time to share ourselves with others. Being particularly aware of what gifts our children possess will not only encourage their character by helping them discover the joy of their hidden talents, but will also provide a foundation for a servant's heart. As Randy Alcorn has said, "When it comes to handling possessions in light of eternity, the most important point is this: sometimes our children will fail to listen to us; rarely will they fail to imitate us." HOW ALIVE WAS YOUR FAITH THIS YEAR? Just suppose, for a moment, that when you opened your morning paper, right on the front page, replacing the usual headline stories, there was a self-analysis test called Test Your Christian Stewardship this Past Year. Sample questions are: 1. Have you attended worship services every Sunday you were physically able? 2. If you volunteered or were appointed a position, did you fulfill your responsibilities in such a way that you can look back on the year with no misgivings? 3. Have you offered your services when you knew they were needed? 4. Have you fulfilled your financial promises? And so the questions go, filling the page. Some of us will feel the pinch of conscience and without ever finishing the test, turn to the sports, social page or comics. Others will finish and feel they had been good and faithful servants. How'd we do? How alive was our faith this year? How alive do we plan to make it next year? ???Used by permission Parish Publishing , New Canaan, CT. TIPS TO TRY Clever cost-cutting ideas to use at home: Decorate a senior's home. Brighten an elderly neighbor's day by helping her decorate her home for the holidays. Liquid hand soap for kids. If your small children really go nuts with the soap dispenser, make a special batch of hand washing soap just for them. Mix 10 parts liquid dishwashing detergent or generic shampoo to 1 part water. Speed drying time. A dry towel in the dryer with a very damp load will speed drying time. The towel will absorb a lot of the moisture. Pay annually. If possible, pay insurance premiums annually. Avoid the added costs for monthly or quarterly billing. Reprinted with permission of cheapskatemonthly.com RECOMMENDED RESOURCE "Money Matters: Family Night Tool Chest" By Jim Weidmann and Larry Burkett These 12 sensational "family nights" will help your children learn to manage their money based on biblical principles. With the help of finance expert Larry Burkett, you'll discover wise counsel on the basics of budgeting, being a good steward of what God has given you, the importance of saving and much more. The Heritage Builder series was developed to "help parents become intentional about passing their faith to the next generation." Check out this resource at www.family.org (type in a search for Money Matters Family Night Tool Chest) or call Focus on the Family at 800-232-6459. $16.00