AS CHRISTIAN PARENTS (or grandparents), we have an enormous opportunity: shaping the financial foundation of our children. God calls us to proactive discipleship, during every waking hour.

Often, we approach financial discipleship with sound tactics—such as using envelopes or jars to teach the division between spending, saving, and giving. That’s a wonderful tactic, but everything we do should be part of a larger strategy for financial discipleship. Let’s explore five high-level strategies to help you form a godly financial foundation with the children in your life.

“You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.” —Deuteronomy 6:7

1 — Tell Money Stories

Look at how often Jesus taught with stories. You can harness this same power by telling stories of your family legacy, laced with financial uncertainty, generosity, sacrifice, frugality, and more.

Did you have much less when you started out? Did you ever have problems with debt?

Did you ever give a radically generous gift? Did you ever make a godly savings plan and follow through? Did your grandparents or great-grandparents live through hard times, but see God’s faithfulness? What was that like? Tell your kids. These stories are a critical tool for shaping a child’s worldview of money.

2 — Celebrate Generosity

Don’t just let your kids see you giving. Let them see you celebrate giving!

Consider an annual family dinner where you discuss the largest gifts you’ve given that year as a family, and why you’re thrilled about them! Perhaps, gather around the computer as you send a gift from your DAF account. Share with your kids how excited you are to be giving to the work of the church, because of the Kingdom fruit being generated there. 

You can tell your kids that giving is important, but far more powerful is showing them your excitement in generosity.

3 — Explain Big Purchases and Milestones

Whenever your family does something fun or reaches a financial milestone, take the opportunity to explain the money habits that enabled it. 

Are you on a big family vacation? Share that it was paid for by money earned and saved through hard work.

Did you finish paying off your house? Tell your kids about how you now own every single brick, and explain how you worked to get there. 

Are you buying a car? Work to save up and pay cash, and explain that decision to your kids.

“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”—Proverbs 22:6

4 — Discuss the Difference Between Gambling and Investing

Teaching investing today is not just about helping children plan for a secure retirement—it’s about protecting them from financial exploitation. Explain the difference between an asset with positive expected returns, versus a gambling-style bet designed to lure you in and addict you. When you hear an ad for sports gambling, explain what it is to your kids, and talk through the pitfalls prevalent in those choices.

5 — Tell Them You’re Investing For Their Future

Research has shown that when a child knows their parents are saving and planning to enable them to attend college, their propensity to attend increases.

Tell your kids that you believe in them and are saving to help them reach for their dreams when they get older. In doing so, you’re modeling long-term thinking, love, sacrifice, sound investing, and hope for their lives.

Our culture avoids talking about money, but it’s our calling as parents to run straight toward challenging topics and direct our children toward a beautiful, God-honoring path in life. We pray that God will give you wisdom as you shape your children’s financial worldview.

This article was published in our Faithful Steward magazine, a quarterly publication filled with encouraging stories, biblical teaching, and practical tools to help you grow as a wise and joyful giver. If you'd like to begin receiving Faithful Steward, consider becoming a FaithFi partner.