Bible Verses

Why Can’t I Have All The Things I Want?

Answer: There are at least three reasons: First, you don’t ask God for them. Second, you ask God for them, but you want them only for yourself, so he says no.

Third, they cost too much or are bad for you, so your parents say no. God wants you to love him, help others, give to his work, and be content.

Money gets in the way of all that. You can’t spend all day, every day shopping and also love God, help others, give to his work, and be content.

Sooner or later you have to stop being selfish.

You don’t need all the things you want anyway. And think about this: If you got everything you wanted, what would you do with all that stuff?

Key verse: Then [Jesus] said, “Beware! Don’t be greedy for what you don’t have. Real life is not measured by how much we own.” (Luke 12:15)

Related verses: Proverbs 21:17; Ecclesiastes 5:10- 12; 6:9; James 4:1-3; 1 John 2:15-17

Related questions: Why don’t my parents buy expensive things for me, only clothes?

Why do parents not buy us a lot of things? How come when you want something and you’re going to pay, your parents won’t let you have it?

Note to parents: Most kids pressure parents to buy things they want.

Do not let your kids nag you into buying things They will survive without them.

Don’t let kids convince you that they can’t be happy without that special something.

What people want most-a loving family and loyal friends-can never be bought.

Learning to do without is one of the most powerful skills you can teach your children.

Why Do People Fight Over Money?

Answer: One reason is greed. Some people want more money than they have, and they want it so much that they fight to get it. They are being selfish.

Another reason is that families just have to work out an agreement.

Sometimes families argue about money because husbands and wives need to agree on how they are going to manage and spend their money.

They should not fight about it, but it does take time to work out a plan, and they may not agree at first.

Always remember that people are more important than money.

Talk over your money problems rather than fight about them.

But if you can’t agree, it’s usually better to let someone else have his or her way than to lose a friend because of a fight over money.

Key verse: Greed causes fighting; trusting the Lord leads to prosperity. (Proverbs 28:25)

Related verses: Ecclesiastes 6:9; Luke 12:13-21; James 4:1-3; 1 John 2:15-17

Related questions: Why do parents, when they go out with a friend for lunch, always argue about who is paying?

Why do people argue about money? Why does money make people mad?

Note to parents: This question highlights the importance of contentment.

People fight over money because they what they don’t have.

Whenever a question like this comes up, remind your child that it’s better to be content than to have more money.

Why Do People Want More Money If They Already Have Lots Of It?

Answer: Greed makes people want more and more and more. They feel as if they never have enough, even though they really do.

Greedy people become so worried about money that they think about it all the time.

Greedy people are never satisfied, never content. God wants us to be satisfied and to find our contentment in him.

Sometimes people want more money for good reasons.

They want to do something for God’s kingdom or for other people, such as giving to those who have lost their homes or spreading the message of Jesus.

Key verse: Those who love money will never have enough. How absurd to think that wealth brings true happiness! (Ecclesiastes 5:10)

Related verses: Proverbs 27:20; Ecclesiastes 5:10- 12; Ezekiel 33:31; Luke 12:13-21; Philippians 4:11-12; Hebrews 13:5; 1 John 2:15-17

Related questions: Why do rich people have so much money? If people have lots of money, why do they rob?

Note to parents: A question like this may arise when news of professional athletes’ contract negotiations hits the front page.

It’s a fair question, one that occurs to many adults as well as kids. Rather than condemn rich people, use the opportunity to point out that an addiction to money hurts.

Greed and selfishness are terrible forces in a person’s life, making otherwise nice people act cruel, unfair, and even criminal.

Why Can’t My Parents Just Get A Loan Instead Of Waiting For Payday?

Answer: Your parents probably could get a loan. But if they did, they would have to pay the loan back plus interest.

Getting a loan doesn’t really solve the problem of needing money. It just postpones the problem and makes it a little worse.

We need to learn to be patient. Usually, we don’t need to buy what we think we need right now. Usually, we can wait a little while.

It’s better to wait and not borrow the money than to borrow money and buy something right now because you’ll pay more if you borrow the money.

This is why it is best to be patient. Besides, if you wait, you may get a better deal!

Key verse: And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)

Related verses: Psalm 37:21; 118:8-9; Proverbs 3:5

Related questions: Why can’t I just buy something That I want when I like it? Why don’t parents sometimes have the money to buy things?

Note to parents: Your children will remember how

you handled lean times long after those times have passed.

Set the pattern now. If you are strapped for money, pray as a family about it, entrust yourselves to God, and look for ways other than a quick loan to weather the storm.

Do without if you can. If doing without hurts, comfort each other.

Take this opportunity to point out how God has met your needs and to express confidence that he will keep on doing so, as he has promised (Philippians 4:19).

If People Keep Buying Lots Of Things, Won’t They Run Out Of Money?

Answer: Yes. No one, not even the richest person in the world, has an unlimited supply of money.

Anyone who keeps spending will run out of money sooner or later. Some people act like they have a lot of money by borrowing a lot.

They keep buying new things and buying new things and buying new things.

They always seem to get whatever they want. But most of them don’t really have that much money.

They’re just borrowing lots of it. Meanwhile, they keep having to pay more and more interest.

And they pay so much for this debt that they aren’t putting any money into savings.

Then when they need money for college or another important expense, they don’t have it.

You make a lot of choices about your money. Choose how much money you want to spend before you spend it.

Make sure you set some aside for giving, saving, and paying for things you have to buy.

Then have fun spending the rest, and stop when it’s gone.

Key verse: Those who love pleasure become poor; wine and luxury are not the way to riches. (Proverbs 21:17)

Related verses: Exodus 20:17; Proverbs 13:7; James 4:1-2

Related question: Why do people live above their means?

Note to parents: This question usually arises when neighbor kids have more toys than your kids, when your kids think the neighbor kids have more, or when a neighbor spends money conspicuously.

Exodus 20:17 reminds us that we must not be jealous of how others spend their money. We need to be content with what we have.

Why Do People Spend Money They Don’t Have?

Answer: Some people do it because they can’t say no to their wants. They haven’t learned how to save money and wait

. They have to have everything right away. Pride is another reason. Many people think that happiness is related to how rich they are.

They think that having something will make them popular. Or they believe that everyone will think they are rich if they have a new car, a new suit, or a big TV.

So they buy it even if they can’t afford it. Some people spend money when they feel bad.

They have no joy so they go buy something to try to make themselves feel better. But when the bills come in, they feel worse.

Try to control your spending. Overspending leads to lots of problems and makes it impossible for you to give.

Key verse: Enjoy what you have rather than desiring what you don’t have. Just dreaming about nice things is meaningless; it is like chasing the wind. (Ecclesiastes 6:9)

Related verses: Proverbs 13:7; 25:28; Galatians 5:16- 23; 2 Peter 1:6

Related question: Why do people buy things they don’t need?

Note to parents: Be careful about telling a child that things don’t make us happy.

Things do make us happy. That is why we crave them. But things can get lost, broken, or stolen.

Remind your child that nothing can take God away.

No matter what happens to our things, God will always be there for us working out his plan (Romans 8:38-39).

How Can Retired People Go On Trips If They Don’t Have A Job?

Answer: Retired people can go on vacation trips because they saved their money when they were working.

They put some in the bank and probably invested some more. And they started when they were young, like you.

In order to go on trips when you don’t have a job, you have to save up for a long time.

You have to start when you’re young. That is why saving is so important. One day, you too will want to retire.

Key verses: The Lord also instructed Moses, “This is the rule the Levites must follow: They must begin serving in the Tabernacle at the age of twenty-five, and they must retire at the age of fifty.” (Numbers 8:23-25)

Related verses: 1 Samuel 8:1; 1 Chronicles 29:26- 28

Related question: What should you do if you’re retired and you go on a trip and come back and find out the retirement plan is gone?

Note to parents: This is a good time to have a live example of the benefits of saving.

Ask your retired relatives to tell your child how they saved for retirement.

You could even illustrate this way: If you invest fifty cents every week at 8 percent interest, starting when you’re 8 years old, you would have $25,798.86 (before taxes) by the time you’re 65.

How Much Do Investments Cost?

Answer: An investment is something you buy so you can sell it later at a higher price.

Investments, like stocks, have all different prices. Some cost more than others.

Most investments cost more than children can pay.

That’s why most kids have their money in bank savings accounts, not in stocks or other investments like that.

Some people say you can get rich quickly or easily by buying their investment.

The Bible warns us to stay away from those kinds of tricks.

God’s plan is that we trust him and that we let our money grow bit by bit.

Greed causes us to listen to get-rich-quick ideas because we want more quickly.

But trying to do it this way usually results in a loss, not a gain.

Key verse: Don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first getting estimates and then checking to see if there is enough money to pay the bills? (Luke 14:28)

Related verses: Matthew 25:14-30; Luke 12:15

Related question: What is an investment?

Note to parents: This topic is only hypothetical to kids who have no investments in the traditional sense, but it is a good way to talk about value.

An investment pays you something back. The most expensive investment is one that never pays anything.

The next time your child wants to buy something, encourage him or her to ask, “What am I getting for my money?”

Why Do Parents Sometimes Not Let Kids Buy What We Want, Even When We Have Enough Money For It?

Answer: Usually parents stop their children from buying everything they want because they love their Sometimes you want something that isn’t good for you.

Your parents know this and forbid it. When you were a baby, you may have wanted to drink drain cleaner because the bottle was colorful.

You didn’t know any better, and you thought it would be good. Your parents stopped you because they knew the drain cleaner would hurt you.

Your parents also want you to learn discipline so you can control your desires. You can’t buy everything, because if you did, you would soon run out of money.

You can buy a lot of things with your money, but that doesn’t mean you should buy all of them.

You have to make choices to buy some things and not others. Your parents are trying to help you learn these skills.

Key verse: Only a fool despises a parent’s discipline; whoever learns from correction is wise. (Proverbs 15:5)

Related verses: Proverbs 13:1; 21:17, 20; Luke 12:15; Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 6:1; Colossians 3:20

Related question: If I get my own money, how come, my parents, say I can’t buy certain things?

Note to parents: Strike a balance between boundaries and freedom. Let your children spend their spending money however they want to.

Let them set their own saving goals. Then establish the rule that if it’s their idea, they pay, and if it’s your idea, you pay.

This gives them enough control to buy what they want but restrains them to using their money, not yours. And it really cuts down on the “gimmes.”

Is It Ok To Slam The Door When You’re Mad?

Answer: No, because the Bible says that we should have self-control. That means God wants us to control our emotions, not let them control us.

Emotions are good, and it is good to understand what we are feeling. In other words, if we are angry, we shouldn’t pretend we aren’t.

But we should also think about why we are angry, talk to God and others about it, and work at changing what caused the anger.

And we have to be careful about how we express our anger-yelling, screaming, calling names, hitting, and slamming doors can hurt other people, making the situation worse.

If you are polite, people will be more likely to listen and pay attention to your concerns.

Key verse: It is better to be slow-tempered than famous. It is better to have self-control than to control an army. (Proverbs 16:32)

Related verses: Galatians 5: 19-23; Ephesians 4:26; Colossians 3:8; James 1:19-20

Related questions: Is it wrong to get angry at a teacher if she treats you unfairly? Is it wrong to get angry?

Note to parents: Handling anger well takes practice. You can help your child learn this valuable skill in several ways: (1) If a question about anger comes up, talk together about alternatives to slamming doors, shouting, or stomp- ing around.

Ask, “What else could you do to let me know you’re upset?” (2) The next time your child gets angry enough to slam a door, encourage him or her to tell you about it (“I’m angry because…”) and be sure to listen patiently. (3) Whenever you are angry, set an example that your child can see and copy.

Why Do I Have To Do Chores?

A: Three reasons: (1) Good families work together. (2) Good family members want to help the family. (3) Doing chores is a way of taking responsibility, which is a part of growing up.

When children are very young, the parents do most of the work around the house.

As children get older, they begin to help out as they are able.

Many families assign special jobs, or “chores,” to each person in the family.

This way, everyone in the family can help make sure that everything in the house runs smoothly and the work gets done.

Chores can include setting the table, cleaning and dusting, cutting the grass, shoveling the snow, washing clothes, washing windows, cooking meals, and even fixing the car-depending on the age and ability of the person.

When your parents give you chores to do, think of it as a compliment and an opportunity.

They know you can handle the job. And you can be a helpful member of the family.

Remember, your parents aren’t just trying to get you to do their work for them.

They are preparing you for life. If you can learn now to be diligent and helpful, it will save you a lot of trouble when you grow up.

Key verse: Some won’t even care for their own relatives. They won’t even take care of those living in their own family.

But they have no right to say they are Christians. Such people are worse than the heathen. (1 Timothy 5:8)

Related verses: Exodus 20:12; 2 Thessalonians 3:10; 1 Timothy 4:12

Related question: Is it a sin not to clean your room when your mom and dad have asked you to?

Why Do I Have To Brush My Teeth?

Answer: If your parents tell you to brush your teeth, then you should do it. God wants children to obey their parents.

But there’s another reason for brush- ing your teeth. You see, each person is a very special creation of our loving God.

He has given us bodies to live in and to use for serving him. It is our job to take care of our bodies and to use them well.

This means eating the right food, getting enough sleep, watching our weight, exercising, dressing warmly in cold weather, and not hurting ourselves with drugs, alcohol, and tobacco.

It also means brushing our teeth and keeping ourselves clean.

It wouldn’t be a sin if an adult didn’t brush his teeth one day.

It would be a sin, however, if he didn’t take care of his teeth and let them get decayed.

It’s not a sin to eat candy. But it would be sinful if a person only ate candy and destroyed her health.

God wants us to take care of our bodies.

Key verse: Don’t you know that your body is the home of the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit lives within you! Your own body does not belong to you. (1 Corinthians 6:19)

Related verse: Song of Solomon 4:2

Related questions: Why do I have to take a bath? Why do I have to go to bed early every night? Why should I have manners? Why do I have to wash my hands every time I eat?

Note to parents: Be careful not to make conflicts over hygiene too big an issue. In fact, a wise parent will make it enjoyable.

For example, you can tape a fun note to the toothbrush every night or offer to play a game as a family when everyone finishes brushing.

How Much Money Are We Supposed To Put In The Bank?

Answer: You don’t have to put any money in the bank. The Bible doesn’t tell us that people have to put their money in banks.

But putting money in the bank is a good idea.

When you put money in the bank, you are saving it for later. You should decide first what it is you want to save for.

Maybe you want to save up for a special toy, a campout with the youth group, or college.

Once you know what you’re saving for, you can figure out how much money you need to put in the bank each week or each month so you will have enough for what you want when the time comes.

Key verses: “You wicked servant!” the king roared. “Hard, am I? If you knew so much about me and how tough I am, why didn’t you deposit the money in the bank so I could at least get some interest on it?” (Luke 19:22-23)

Related Verse: Proverbs 21:20

Related questions: Why should we save money? If you have only five dollars in the bank, will the bankers kick you out? How do you make sure you have enough money in the bank to cover a check?

Note to parents: Take this sort of question as an

opportunity to talk about budgeting. Children should have savings goals and work toward them, even if the goals are small.

Help your child identify these goals, write them down, and save up little by little.

This will illustrate the wisdom of saving money, the reasons for saving, and the power of choice.

Why Do We Have To Put Money In The Bank When We Have Our Own Piggy Banks?

Answer: A bank lets you do a lot more with your money than just store it.

If someone has money in the bank, he or she can write checks, get small amounts of money out as it is needed, and pay bills from the money in the bank.

A bank has other benefits too. It pays you a little bit for keeping your money, it keeps the money safe, and it can hold as much as you’ll ever get.

It’s fun to put money in a piggy bank. But sooner or later you’ll want to have a bank account.

Key verse: Guard these treasures well until you present them, without an ounce lost, to the leading priests, the Levites, and the leaders of Israel at the storerooms of the Lord’s Temple in Jerusalem. (Ezra 8:29)

Related verses: Matthew 6:19-20; Luke 19:23

Related questions: Why is it so good to put money in the bank? Why don’t people keep their money in a piggy bank?

Note to parents: A young child has no idea how much money passes through an adult’s checking account, so a child might think,

If I can keep my money in a piggy bank, why can’t you?

Explain to your children that you have to keep track of much more money than they do.

You might even want to show your children your monthly budget and your plan to meet all your commitments.

You can also point out the bank systems that help you do this.

What Does The Bank Do With Everyone’s Money?

Answer: They put some of it in a vault and loan a lot of it to others. They don’t need to keep everyone’s money in a separate place.

And they don’t even need to keep all of it in the vault. They just need to have enough to give to anyone who comes to get some of his or her money out.

The bank keeps track of everybody’s money through its computer system.

A bank is a business that makes money by loaning money to others. Here’s how it works.

A lot of people put money in the bank. Then the bank loans some of the money to other people.

For example, most people who want to buy a house borrow money from a bank.

The people who borrow the money pay it back plus a little more.

The extra that they pay is called interest. The more loans the bank makes, the more people pay interest, and the more money the bank makes.

Key verses: The master replied, “You wicked and lazy servant! You think I’m a hard man, do you, harvesting crops I didn’t plant and gathering crops I didn’t cultivate?

Well, you should at least have put my money into the bank so I could have some interest.” (Matthew 25:26-27)

Related questions: How do bankers organize your money? How do banks keep everybody’s money at the same time?

Do Babies Stay In Heaven Until They Are Born?

Answer: Whenever God creates a person, he creates a new soul, a new person who never existed before.

Babies do not live in heaven waiting to be born here on earth.

The starting place for every person is right inside the mother’s womb.

Key verse: You made all the parts of my body. You put them together in my mother’s womb.

Do People Walk In Heaven, Or Do They Fly To Where They Need To Be?

We don’t know for sure how people get around in heaven.

The Bible does say that angels fly, but it never says that people have wings or that they fly around, not even in heaven.

Usually, descriptions of people in heaven talk about them standing or walking.

Key verse: I saw a great crowd, too big to count. They were from all nations lands and languages.

I saw them standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb.

They were dressed in white. And they had palm branches in their hands.

Does Jesus Come Into Your House In Heaven For A Visit?

Jesus always visits those who let him in. On earth, Jesus often visited his friend Mary.

Martha, and Lazarus. In his early ministry, he went to a friend’s wedding.

And just before Jesus went to the cross, he told his disciples that he would eat and drink with them in heaven.

Jesus will visit all of his friends in heaven, including you. Just think we will finally get to see him face-to-face!

Key verse: Mark my [Jesus’] words. I will not drink wine again until I drink it with you in my Father’s Kingdom.

Related questions: Can you have a sleepover with God when you’re in heaven?

Will there be a lot of windows in our house?

Will we be able to walk through walls when we’re in heaven? Do they have furniture in heaven?

Note to parents: Above all else, God seeks a relationship with us.

That is why he created us, that is why he sent his Son to die for us, and that is why he is preparing a place for us.

Remind your child that being with us matters very much to God now, as well as in heaven.

Where Does The Money Go When You Buy What You Want?

Answer: When you give money to a store owner or a salesperson, that person puts it in a safe place, such as a drawer, a safe, or a bank.

Later the store owner can use the money to pay the employees and to pay for things he or she wants.

The employees then go out and buy things that they want. And the store owners who get those dollars do the same thing with the money they get.

Let’s say you give Mr. Jones a dollar to buy a toy you want. Later, Mr. Jones uses that dollar to buy a stamp at the post office.

Then the postal clerk gives the dollar to Mrs. Smith as change.

Mrs. Smith goes home and gives her son the dollar for his allowance. The money just keeps going from person to person!

Key verse: When she told the man of God what had happened, he said to her, “Now sell the olive oil and pay your debts, and there will be enough money left over to support you and your sons.” (2 Kings 4:7)

Related verse: Proverbs 14:23

Related questions: When you buy with a check, what does the person you gave the check to do with it? What happens after you give someone a check?

Note to parents: It’s not immediately obvious where money goes when you buy something, so this is a logical question.

Just try to explain that it simply changes hands. One person gives it to another.

Why Isn’t A Dollar Worth A Dollar Anymore?

Answer: When people say that a dollar isn’t worth a dollar anymore, they mean that a dollar doesn’t buy as much in a store as it used to.

Let’s say that ten years ago a dollar bought ten chocolate chip cookies. But today when you go to the store you only get seven cookies for your dollar.

You would be getting less for your money than you used to. This happens for many reasons, but it’s a little like a circle of dominoes.

The store owner, the baker, the chocolate- chip maker, and the cocoa-bean farmer are all dominoes in the circle.

If a hurricane wipes out part of the cocoa-bean crop, the cocoa-bean farmer has to raise his prices.

The chocolate chip maker has to pay more for cocoa, so he then has to raise his prices.

The baker has to pay more for chocolate chips, so he has to raise his prices.

And the store owner has to pay more for cookies, so he has to raise his prices.

It is not always that simple, but that’s one reason prices go up.

Don’t worry about it, though. No matter what a dollar is worth, God is in control, and we can trust him to take care of us.

Key verse: The Lord will not let the godly starve to death, but he refuses to satisfy the craving of the wicked. (Proverbs 10:3)

Related verses: 1 Kings 10:29; Proverbs 11:28; Ezekiel 7:19

Related question: Why did prices inflate so much from what they used to be?

Why Do We Put Our Money In The Bank When We Have To Keep Going Back There To Get It?

Answer: The main reason that people put money in banks is for safety.

At home you can lose your money or someone can steal it. But it is very difficult to steal from a bank.

It’s also easier to keep your money in a bank than to keep it all in your house or in your pocket. Banks are safe and easy to use.

Banks also pay you a little bit when you save your money there. That’s called interest.

Key verses: The master replied, “You wicked and lazy servant! You think I’m a hard man, do you, harvesting crops I didn’t plant and gathering crops I didn’t cultivate? Well, you should at least have put my money into the bank so I could have some interest.” (Matthew 25:26-27)

Related questions: Why do we have banks when they just get robbed? Why can’t we just keep our money at home?

Note to parents: Children who are old enough to have their own bank accounts are still years away from being able to get to their money without your help.

It’s a good idea to let them keep enough of their spending money at home that they are not frustrated by this.

When Was Money Invented?

Answer: Money was invented many thousands of years ago. We know that early Egyptian civilizations traded precious minerals, for example.

In Old Testament times, people traded gold and silver by its weight, rather than using coins.

By New Testament times, people throughout the Roman Empire used coins to buy and sell.

Key verses: So they left Egypt and traveled north into the Negev Abram with his wife and Lot and all that they owned, for Abram was very rich in livestock, silver, and gold. (Genesis 13:1-2)

Related verses: Genesis 2:11-12

Related questions: When did money start, and why? Who invented money? Who made up the idea of money?

Why Are Those Little Pieces Of Paper Worth So Much?

Answer: It may seem strange that a little piece of paper, like a dollar bill, is worth so much.

Actually, the paper itself isn’t worth very much at all. The paper of a one- dollar bill is worth less than a penny.

But the one-dollar bill has worth because the government says it does. It is worth 100 pennies.

The federal government says how much each special piece of paper is worth.

And only the government can print money.

If you drew your own money on paper, it wouldn’t be worth anything, even if you said it was.

Key verses: “Here, show me the Roman coin used for the tax.” When they handed him the coin, he asked, “Whose picture and title are stamped on it?” “Caesar’s, they replied.

“Well, then,” he said, “give to Caesar what belongs to him. But everything that belongs to God must be given to God.” (Matthew 22:19-21)

Related verses: Job 28:15-19

Related question: What does “means of exchange” mean?

Why Are There All Different Kinds Of Money?

Answer: One reason is that each country makes its own money. Other differences come from different denominations of money.

Coins and bills are made with different values so money will be easy to manage.

If the only kind of money were the penny, you would have to carry bags and bags of pennies to buy groceries.

Some people have a lot of fun collecting different kinds of money.

They make a hobby of collecting coins and bills from all over the world and from different times in history.

Key verses: [The Pharisees asked,] “Now tell us what you think about this: Is it right to pay taxes to the Roman government or not?”

But Jesus knew their evil motives. “You hypocrites!” he said. “Whom are you trying to fool with your trick questions?

Here, show me the Roman coin used for the tax.” When they handed him the coin, he asked, “Whose picture and title are stamped on it?”

“Caesar’s,” they replied. “Well, then,” he said, “give to Caesar what belongs to him.

But everything that belongs to God must be given to God.” (Matthew 22:17-21)

Related verse: 1 King 10:10

Related questions: How does money work? How does the country’s money system work?

Note to parents: If your child shows a lot of interest in this, you could start a collection of different types of money from different countries.

You could even use the money as a way of studying those countries’ cultures.

Where Does Money Come From, God Or People?

Answer: The Bible says that in the very beginning, God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1) and that everything was made by him (John 1:3).

So everything there is came from God. The sun, moon, oceans, trees, animals, sky, and land all came from him.

The Bible also says, “Whatever is good and perfect comes to us from God above” (James 1:17).

But this doesn’t mean that God makes every little thing in the world himself.

Instead, he expects people to use the materials he has given them to make things like bread, cars, toys, medicine, houses, clothes, and money.

God made the world and people, and he makes it all work right. You might say that money comes from God through people.

But God doesn’t make money-people print money and mint coins. God enables people to earn and use it.

God makes it possible for people to earn money. He made people. He made their skills. He made the bosses. He controls the world.

Key verse: It is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life-that is indeed a gift from God. (Ecclesiastes 5:19)

Related verses: Psalm 50:10; 111:5; Matthew 6:19- 34; 19:21-24

Related questions: If money doesn’t grow on trees, where does it come from? Why did God make money?

Note to parents: This assumes money comes either from God or from people. Emphasize the important role of both by thanking God for what you have and for the people through whom it comes.

Why Is There Such A Thing As Money?

Answer: People use money to trade one thing for another.

Think about when you go to the store. If you want to get something in the store, how would you do that without money?

You would have to trade something for what you want in the store, and the store would have to want what you have to trade.

That might get very complicated. That’s why there is money-it’s something that everyone can use for trade.

Key verse: The king replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on buying it, for I cannot present burnt offerings to the Lord my God that have cost me nothing.”

So David paid him fifty pieces of silver for the threshing floor and the oxen. (2 Samuel 24:24)

Related verses: Genesis 42:35; 2 Kings 12:5; Ecclesiastes 5:19; Isaiah 30:6

Related questions: How did money start? If everything was free, then the world would be a better place, so why did people make money in the first place?

Why Don’t People Just Trade For What They Need?

Answer: Long ago (and in some places even today) people traded things with each other instead of using money.

They traded food they grew, animals they raised, things they made, and so forth. For example, someone might trade some grain for a table.

Or someone might trade a cow for shoes and clothes. But this only worked if each of the traders wanted what the other had to trade.

If you had only a model airplane to trade and no one else wanted it, you wouldn’t be able to get what you needed.

Money makes trading easier because everybody can use it.

If you trade money for a new model airplane, the person who sold it to you can use the money to trade for a baseball glove. Money makes trading easy.

Key verse: Joseph collected all the money in Egypt and Canaan in exchange for grain, and he brought the money to Pharaoh’s treasure house. (Genesis 47:14)

Related verses: Genesis 13:2; 34:10

Related question: What did people do before money came?

Are There Animals In Heaven?

Answer: When God creates the new heaven and the new earth, he will make all of creation new, and that includes the animal kingdom.

But keep in mind that the animals won’t be just like they are here on earth. They won’t be dangerous.

They won’t attack people or be afraid of us. And all of them will get along with each other; they won’t need to eat other animals.

The Bible also says there will be plant life in heaven, such as trees.

And perhaps best of all, no one will be allergic to any of it-dogs, cats, pollen, or anything!

Key verse: In that day the wolf and the lamb will lie down together. And the leopards and goats will be at peace.

Related questions: If God made everything, will there be dragons in heaven? Will only dogs go to heaven?

Will insects go to heaven? Will there be any lizards in heaven? Will there be any birds in the new world?

Will my pet go to heaven when it dies? Will there be any feathers and ducks in heaven?

Will there be any reindeers in heaven? Are there going to be any mice or frogs?

Note to parents: There is no evidence in the Bible that animals will be resurrected.

So we don’t really know if a child’s pet will be in heaven with him or her.

All we know is that we will have in heaven whatever we need to be happy.

Will We Eat In Heaven?

Answer: We will be able to eat in heaven, but we won’t have to eat to live, as we do on earth.

Jesus said he would eat with his people there. But no one in heaven will ever go hungry.

Key verse: Here in Jerusalem the Lord Almighty will spread a great feast.

It will be for everyone around the world. It will be a tasty feast of good food.

There will be clear, well-aged wine and choice beef.

Related questions: Does heaven have hotels or inns? What do angels eat?

Are angels fat? Is there junk food up in heaven? What does Jesus eat in heaven?

Will there be restaurants to eat at in heaven? Are there food fights in heaven?

Does heaven have sections for candy, one for cereal, etc.? Will they have Kool-Aid in heaven?

Will We Wear Clothes In Heaven?

Answer: The Bible says that people will wear clothes in heaven-dazzling white robes.

But people won’t wear clothes for the same reasons that they wear them here.

On earth, people wear clothes to protect them from bad weather, to cover their nakedness, and to impress other people.

We won’t need clothes to protect us from the cold because it won’t be cold.

We won’t need raincoats because it won’t be stormy.

And we won’t need special designer clothes because we won’t need to show off.

Key verse: I saw a great crowd, too big to count. They were from all nations and lands and languages.

I saw them standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were dressed in white. And they had palm branches in their hands.

Related questions: Will people be naked in heaven? Do angels have to buy things? Why are some angels naked?