Dear Auntie Agony,

Whenever I get money, I want to spend it all right away. And most of the time I do, but then I’m mad that I don’t have money later. What should I do?

There are so many good things to do and buy and give to in the world we live in. It reminds me of a Chinese restaurant I once went to. There were 150 items on the menu. I had the hardest time deciding on just one thing to order – and then I wondered if I’d chosen well. I don’t like to have too many choices. It confuses me – or makes me overeat!

That’s how it is when you get money. Suddenly you realize how many things you’d like to buy or do or give, but you can’t have everything on the menu. Here’s a system that will work.

First, get three containers. These can be plastic food storage containers, sandwich bags, or jars with lids. On one write, “Buy now!” On the second write, “Buy Later!” On the third write “For the Lord!” From now on, whenever you get money, divide it between those three containers. If you need advice on how to divide up the money, talk to your parents about how much you should put in each container. Maybe it will be a percentage that you use every time. Or maybe you’ll want to give up your “Buy Now!” money for a time, putting it towards the Thanksgiving fundraiser for the homeless, or that cool jacket you want for the first day of school.

Whenever you put money in all three jars, you’ll get three great feelings. First, you’ll get the fun of having mad cash to spend whenever and on whatever. Second, you’ll get the pleasure of looking forward to buying something you need to save for. And third, you’ll have the joy of giving something to God, by giving to the people He loves.

The wise man saves for the future, but the foolish man spends whatever he gets. Proverbs 21:20 TLB

Dear Auntie Agony,

Several people at my church were baptized last Sunday. Why do people get baptized anyway?

When I got married, I stood before a hundred people who knew me and my husband, and I said important things. I said that I would love and honor my husband-to-be and that I would not be interested in any other men from then on. I would be set aside only for him. My old single life was over – my married life was now beginning. My husband said that he would love and take care of me and would not be interested in any other women from then on. He would be set aside only for me. Everyone in the room heard us make those promises. When the going gets tough and I’m angry with my husband or he is angry with me, we remember those vows and we keep them.

In the same way, when you are baptized in front of people, you are telling them that your old life as a non-Christian is over and your new life as a Christian is beginning. You make a statement in front of all of the people there and in front of God that you are beginning a new life, making promises to live as a Christian, even when you’re mad or angry or confused. It’s a public promise, a public celebration, and the way to show just what is most important in your life. Some people are baptized as babies – if so, their parents promise to raise them as Christians until the babies grow into people old enough to make their own decision for Christ.

Because baptism is so important, Jesus commanded his disciples to baptize other believers. Baptism is one way to honor Him and show others around you whom your life is centered on.

Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 28:19 NLT