Needs vs. Wants
There is a difference between needs and
wants. Gather around a table, and place
a glass of cold water in front of each family member. In the center of the table, place a glass filled
with a soft drink. Ask what life would
be like without soft drinks. Then ask what life would be like without
water. Ask everyone to take a drink of
their water then discuss: What is the
difference between water and soft drinks? (Water doesn't taste as good; water
is a need, soft drinks are wants.) If you had to choose between unlimited water
for a week, or one six-pack of soft drink, which would you choose? Share:
We can survive without soft drinks because our bodies don't need them to
keep us alive. But if we didn't have
water we couldn't survive.
This is the
difference between needs and wants. Have
each person draw a picture of things they touch or use in a typical day (beds,
clothes, food, toys, books, etc.) Circle
the ones that are needs. Remember to
explain that what some people consider to be a "need" could be considered a luxury to someone in a different socioeconomic
situation. Discuss: If you had a limited amount of money to
spend, and you owned nothing, which things on your list would you buy first? (A
bed, house, clothing.) What does this
tell us about the way we spend our money? (Most is spent on "wants";
we really don't have many things we have to buy.) Share:
A wise spender doesn't use all of his money for "wants" or
luxuries before taking care of the needs.
To be wise spenders, we must first take care of the things that are most
important, and then we can think about buying some of the things that are
"wants." Close in prayer
thanking God for His provision in providing for the family and taking care of
our needs, and asking for wisdom in using money the best way possible to live a
life glorifying to Him.
This article furnished by www.HeritageBuilders.com
