Is it a want or 'need'? 02-09-09
Published 6:00 pm, Saturday, February 14, 2009
In the last four weeks I have written about principles of good stewardship. These tough economic times give us the perfect opportunity to teach our children the best way - in good times or bad - to handle their money and resources.
Let us review the principles. A good steward: (1) recognizes that everything belongs to God and that his gifts are temporary loans, (2) consults the owner about the use of a gift, (3) returns a part of the gift to the owner and (4) leaves the gift in better condition than when it was loaned to him.
One of the first things we must teach children is the difference between "want" and "need." Generally, material needs fall into one of three groups: food, clothing and shelter. When we have lived in a state of plenty, it is really easy to think of a new big screen television as a "need." For a person living in a third-world country with unmet basic needs, any television would be a very high-end luxury.
Try this with your children SEmD and yourself, if you are gutsy enough. Have your child go to his room with a notepad and pencil. On one page, list everything that he considers a true necessity or "need." That would include a coat to stay warm, items of clothing for different weather types, better clothes for school and good shoes. Wait a minute! How many sets of better clothes are needed for school? Suddenly your child may need to move some of the clothes to the next page as luxuries or "wants."
After he has completed his list, sit down together and discuss what makes each item a "want" or a "need." He may want to move some items after you have talked together. Did you make a list of your own so that you can talk with him about your wants and needs?
Remember that it is not wrong to enjoy things beyond our basic needs. God enjoys giving us more. "Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4
However, it is important that children learn to distinguish between what they truly need and what they want. Understanding the difference is the beginning of good stewardship.
(Carole A. Bell is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a retired public school educator and counselor.)