What Kids Need
Kids Need Contentment
(Luke 12:15; Hebrews 13:5)
The Situation: Kids demand, "I need to have one of those!" Many children don't distinguish between "needs" and "wants." As a result, contentment is short-lived. Many bedrooms, closets, and garages are filled with "needs" that have become little more than clutter.
The Solution: Jesus viewed materialism and consumerism as enemies (Matthew 6:19-21). A person's life does not consist of possessions or material goods. Indeed, "things" cause many believers to lose their focus on what is truly important and miss out on life's essentials. Discontentment often leads to greed, the monster that can never be satisfied.
What You Can Do: Explain to your child that "wants" and "needs" are very different. Compile a list of things that you truly need, then compare your list to 1 Timothy 6:6-8. Select your child's privileges and possessions carefully. In the long run, giving kids less may actually provide them with more. Go through your things together and donate the unneeded stuff to a local charity.
