July 13 - Modelling behaviour

"Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;" - James 1:19

The men of the Newcastle Seventh-day Adventist church do communicate. They don’t just say, ‘yes’ and ‘no’. When they use Facebook or Whatsapp they don’t just offer a ‘thumbs up’ to show they agree or understand something. They often reply in detail.

We occasionally find ourselves answering questions from men in our men's group. A while back one of our men asked the following question, “I’m trying to teach my young man to save money. It isn’t easy. Can SmartStewards help?”

I didn’t directly reply, but I did add the following to the discussion.

“When my Dad died I had to deal with his papers. He kept accounts for everything - all his receipts, for every single expenditure going back to 1940. Somehow he had paid for his first house by the age of 30. I would guess that was an easier process than now, but still impressive especially as my Dad wasn’t a stockbroker but a sheet-metal worker in the aerospace industry. My friend Chris decided he would be a rich man. He set himself an aim – and wrote it down. He developed a plan – and wrote it down. He retired aged 50 a millionaire. Both learned at an early age to be careful.

I could suggest that their success came from their abstemious habits – that would be partly true but my Dad took us on foreign holidays to Germany when others went without. I could suggest that having a written plan was the reason for the achievements – and that might have more truth.

In fact, the main reason that they succeeded was that they learned from their parents. Their parents were effective in avoiding debt, in saving money, in having a plan and in applying the plan. My Father and my friend Chris observed their parents and simply ‘grew into’ a sensible debt-free lifestyle. They had a model to follow.

If your whole family sits down and works on a family budget on a monthly basis and sees that money is building up towards a plan objective they will take note. If they simply see their parents spending money and see no savings being put away - they will follow the same model.

SmartStewards suggest that the family budget is just that. It isn't there just to deal with debts but is there to model sound financial practice for the whole family.

Next week – a model budget - Pastor Peter Jeynes

In the meanwhile, the music choice is "The Promise" with Lyrics, by the Martins.   Click on
the picture to join in.