Joy of Earning

My daughter is 5 years old now, and a few weeks ago she got to participate in a survey and earn $50.00. She was so excited. It was the first time that she got to go to a "meeting" (which she hears her daddy talk about all the time) and earn money.

Part of our responsibility as parents is to help her learn the joy of earning. There are consequential joys that come from this God ordained activity, and in preparation for September's series called Treasures, I've been giving some thought to them this morning.

The fruit of the vine of earning are listed as follows:

1. The joy of saving.
2. The joy of giving.
3. The joy of spending.

In law there is a term called, "Fruit from the poisonous tree." It means that even if some evidence looks good and helpful, if it was mishandled or has no clear line of authenticity it can't be admitted into the juris process.

Saving, giving, and spending are similar in that if they don't come from the tree of earning they are poisoned fruits. Saving is only hoarding if you are saving the handouts of others. Giving is only self-serving if you're giving someone else's earnings away. It allows you to be recorded and recognized for having given, but it didn't cost you anything. Finally Spending brings joy only when you're spending what you've earned. Spending someone else's money or on a credit card that you can't pay off may bring happiness in the moment, but it does not bring joy. Spending can only be enjoyed when we are spending what we've earned.

These are things I'm trying to teach a five year old, seems like pretty good lessons for adults as well. If you need help managing your money, I recommend being at SRC September 12-26.

--Ben