My, brother, my sister, do not be conformed to the pattern of this world. End of the year is a time when parents especially become too wordly to behave godly, trying to spoil their children beyond the normality. Every year, you hear people telling you that they are broke in January? Why? Because they spent more than they should have spent for their loved ones in December.
My friend, the education we give our children is capital to their behaviour and their future life: when I was a teenager, I was a babysitter in a wealthy family near the Champs Elysees in Paris. The woman used to give her children 20 cents a week and told them they had to earn any additional money, etc. Initially, I found it very hard, but seeing her children grow for 4 years, I understood that she was educating them to understand about money. I applied the same method with my boys. Today, I praise God that they have grown up without the kind of lust that many teenagers their age have. The other day, this is what my 11 year old son did: after he received his £15 monthly pocket money, he took away £5 for his tithes and offerings to the church, then he took £10 to go shopping. He went to a game store and he decided to get a £3.50 game. I asked him why he did not buy the other games he had in his hands, he said, “I do not need them and I have to keep the rest of my money until the end of the month”. How many adults are unable to manage their money as they indulge in their passions?
My friend, the Bible says, “You shall therefore impress these words of mine on your heart and on your soul; and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. You shall teach them to your sons, talking of them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road and when you lie down and when you rise up” (Deuteronomy 11: 18-19). Indeed, it is not enough to teach the Word to a child if you do not give them the opportunity to apply it. Using money to spoil a child, especially if they don’t deserve it is to teach them to covet things later (how many Christian children steal or feel frustrated because they want great things they can’t have, etc?). You see, if a child grows up with eyes set on things above rather than on earthly things,you will sleep tightly when they become teens.
Yes, we are in a festive season, but we are also Christians. This month should be the right time to teach our Christian children to share rather than to receive. If we truly celebrate the birth of Jesus, then we must do what pleases Him, we must imitate Him by loving others… Jesus gave His life. So we should be getting ready to give to others, rather than buying ourselves beautiful party clothes to sit comfortably at home with our family in the hope of receiving something: “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters” (1 John 3:16). Celebrating Christ would therefore be giving to others (not necessarily your family as presented by the world)! Stay blessed in Jesus’ name.