Years ago a lawyer told me of a client who came to him to have his will drawn. He wanted to leave his large estate to Christian causes. The lawyer inquired as to why he was not leaving it to his children. He was not trying to change the man’s mind. He was only curious.
The man said, “Because I do not want to deny my children the joy of earning their own way in life and the spiritual growth that comes from trusting God for their daily bread.”
He was a wise man.
There is joy and satisfaction that comes from making your own way in life. More than that, there is spiritual growth that comes from having to trust God for our daily bread. I’m not suggesting we can be totally self-made people. As someone said, “If you see a turtle on a fence post, you know it had some help.” We all have had help in life. But there is more joy in earning it than having someone give it to you.
Be careful of giving your children too much. You may be denying them real joy and faith for life.