Imagine you are looking at the plans for your dream house. The
blueprints have been drawn to your exact specifications, and it’s everything
your wife has ever wanted in a house. You chose just the right builder for the
project, and he is crafting it as if he were building for the President. The
best subcontractors in the area are on board. An interior decorator is ready to
match colors, fixtures, carpet and trim to your desired effect. The land is in
a secluded area that you happened to find by word of mouth, and it was
surprisingly affordable. You and your wife have been planning for this for a
long time.
On the third day of construction, the two of you manage to drop by
to check things out, and as you pull up, you cannot believe your eyes. They
already have the decking in place for the roof! It’s certainly beautiful, but
your excitement quickly fades when you get closer and discover that your
builder has erected the roof first, before digging down and pouring concrete
for the foundation. (Clearly, he wasn’t the right builder after all.)
As crazy and unlikely as this story might sound, it’s an
appropriate way to describe how too many people today approach their finances.
They’re trying to live in a mansion that has no foundation. They don’t have
important values and principles in place that will guide their decisions and
help them teach their children.
Maybe a better example is the people who build houses on the sides
of hills or mountains. The views are beautiful, but the foundations are not
secure. Due to mudslides or the gradual pull of gravity, many of these houses
eventually start slipping down the mountain. Engineers warn of the inherent
danger of building in such risky locations, but people do it anyway. The
homeowners are more
concerned about the view and they don't understand the vital importance of a
firm foundation.
Are you helping your kids look at the view or build a solid foundation?
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