孩子和钱（四）

孩子怎样送礼

1. 送礼
   
   重要的是教育孩子，钱可以给其他人，不必自己单独享用。送礼的过程，从筹划购买、包装、藏起来到拿出来，都是那样令人兴奋！帮孩子学会送出合适的礼物，问他：“你觉得这些……还有这些……你喜欢吗？……必要吗？”
   
   
2. 透支
   
   我的太太允许孩子借用将来的零用钱给家人送礼。这是透支吗？透支是不是不对？为什么不对？或者为什么并非不对？
   
   

   富户管辖穷人 欠债的是债主的仆人 《箴言》 22: 7

   
   《圣经》似乎并不反对借贷（参考《马太福音》5：42），但却明白无误地指出欠债的是债主的仆人（《箴言》22：7）。
   
   The borrower may be forced to mortgage his property and in the event that he is unable to pay, the property may be taken from him and he may be reduced to poverty (c.f., Neh. 5: 4-5). But would you as a parent (the lender) subject your child (the borrower) to such an ordeal? Nevertheless, are we encouraging our children to spend beyond their means?
   
   
3. 奉献
   
   我看到不少父母给孩子钱让他们在主日学作奉献用。钱从父母的钱包经孩子的手进了奉献袋。我觉得孩子并没有从中领会到奉献的意义。可能有人会说实践领先。不错，我们应当首先培养孩子良好的习惯，可以稍后再向孩子解释其意义。对于学龄前儿童这种培训方法很不错。但一旦孩子有了零用钱，能够懂得这种培训的意义是奉献爱心和与人分享神的祝福，那么，给钱让孩子奉献的行为就应该停止了。
   
   I believe that my children should learn to give out of their allowances. So I decided to increase their daily allowance by 10 cents and told them that they are responsible for setting aside money for offerings on Sunday. I am not sure whether my strategy succeeded or failed when my boys decided to take 10 cents less each day and then "withdraw" 50 cents on Sunday for offering.