Before our first son was born I was quite concerned about parenting. I was more nervous than excited about being a dad. I hadn’t finished college yet, I didn’t know where we’d end up in ministry, we were poor and humans made me nervous, especially little ones. I read what books I could find; Diane listened to Focus on the Family and I asked older people what I should know ahead of time. Someone suggested that teaching kids about money at an early age was very important and they gave me a plan. When the boys were old enough to understand what money was, we gave each of them three jars. One was labeled “Saving.” One was labeled “Spending.” One was labeled “Giving.” Each week we put money in each jar and reminded them when we went to church to grab their offering money to take to Sunday School. This lesson for kids turned out to be a very important lesson for me as well. Thinking of money as a tool to master instead of being mastered by it is a life skill that all followers of Jesus need to remember. How do you think of money? How does money make you feel? What do you love about money? What do you hate about money? Answers to those questions may serve as a diagnostic tool for your spiritual life. Money is not neutral; wise is the person who knows the power and how to use it for the Kingdom.