God has provided us with a great responsibility as parents. We have been chosen by Him to teach our children how to live as respected Christians. Paul reminded us that we are the driving force in our children's lives. Paul told us in Ephesians 6:4, "Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord." (NIV) It is up to us; society and our schools cannot do it for us.

Talk to them

We need to talk to our children. When Moses received the Commandments, the Lord instructed us to teach our children constantly. Deuteronomy 6:6-7 says, "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." (NIV)

Communication is important to their development. They should learn about life from us, not the streets or television. They should feel comfortable coming to us about anything, whether good or bad. As parents, we have their best interest in mind, and advice should come from us, not their peers.

We should be talking to our children early about the importance of managing their finances. This information is not taught in the schools, especially from the Christian perspective. Since the media do not provide positive information, we need to be on the offense in teaching our children so that they will be ready to defend themselves when they step out on their own.

Be an example

Talking isn't enough. We also need to lead by example. If there is one thing I've learned about being a parent, it is that children are quick to imitate what they see. I have to be very careful about what I say and do around my daughter because she often imitates my behavior. However, I can use that to my advantage by showing her the right way to manage finances.

Our children should see us budgeting our money and paying our bills on time. They should see us using credit cards only to the extent that we are able to pay them off in full when the bill comes. They should see us living below our means rather than trying to keep up with the Joneses.

We should also show our children that we are responsible for the bills we create. What kind of example are we setting for our children if we ask them to tell the bill collectors that we're not home?

While we may come from households where parents did not discuss the household finances with children, we do not have to carry on that tradition. Children seek direction and guidance. Our children are eager to learn, and we can be their best teachers. We can show them what to do - and what not to do.

We don't like giving our children a negative image of us. But, they should know that we are not perfect. Let's be genuinely open with our children and allow them to learn from our mistakes.