What Money Can’t Buy (Part 1)
About 13 minutes, plus hands-on activity and discussion.
Think about it
Can you buy a real friend? What about more time in your day? Or a hug from someone who loves you?
Money is useful, but there are some things in life that no amount of money can buy. Before we go further into how money works, let’s stop and think about what money can’t do.
Let’s Learn
Money is valuable, but not the most valuable
Money helps us buy food, clothing, toys, and even go on fun adventures. It helps us trade and get the things we need. But money has its limits.
There are some things in life that money can never buy, and these things will probably be the most valuable things in your life. Let’s take a closer look at 5 things that are much more valuable than money.
1. Money can’t buy love
Money can buy someone a fancy date or a big gift, but it can’t make someone truly love you. Real love is given freely, not bought or earned with things.
For example, buying your mom flowers and a chocolate bar for Valentines Day is a great way to show your mom that you love her. She will feel loved because you thought about her and spent your money to buy her a thoughtful gift. But even though it is a good thing to give gifts to others, it’s not the gift that she values most. What she values most is YOU!
2. Money can’t buy Time
Money can help you save time. Money can buy faster delivery, a plane ticket, or even hire someone to help with chores. But no matter how rich you are, you only get 24 hours in a day. Once time is gone, you can’t get it back.
A millionaire and someone with no money both live one day at a time. Money might help you fly on a plane to see your grandparents, but it can’t give them more time on earth. Some of the most important people in your life—like your mom, dad, siblings, or best friend—won’t always be around. So treasure the time you have with them. Every moment you share with someone you love is a gift you can’t buy.
3. Money can’t buy Trust
Money can buy attention. Fancy clothes, cool gadgets, or a big house might make people notice you. But the people who really stand out are the ones who are trustworthy. Trustworthy people can be counted on because they’re honest, kind, and keep their promises.
Trust is earned over time by telling the truth every day, keeping your promises, and doing the right thing, even when it’s hard.
A person with a lot of money still needs to be honest and kind if they want others to trust them.
Sometimes, we might think someone is trustworthy just because they seem rich or important. But real trust comes from who you are on the inside, not what you own. Be someone others can count on. Your stuff won’t make you trustworthy. They way that you live will.
4. Money can’t buy Joy
Money can buy toys, vacations, and cake, but those things only make you happy for a little while. What is joy? Joy is a deep gladness that can stick with you even when things aren’t going perfectly. When you get new toys and gifts for your birthday, think about how long you are excited about them. Sometimes after even a few days, some toys don’t seem fun anymore.
“The joy of the Lord is your strength.”
There is a Bible verse that you may hear Christians say a lot. The verse is, “The Joy of the Lord is my strength.” This verse is in the book of Nehemiah in the Old Testament. The Israelites heard a prophet read from the first five books of the Bible, some of them probably hearing for the first time, and they began to cry when they realized that they and their ancestors had turned away from God. They were made aware of their sins and felt really bad. The prophet Nehemiah encouraged them not to be sad about it, but to “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks… Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
Sometimes we may sin against God by spending too much money on things around us that we think can make us happy. We all make mistakes. When we become aware of our mistakes and ask God for forgiveness, God turns our a sad moment into a beautiful time of reconnecting with God.
No matter what trouble we have, God’s presence in our life, or His joy, will get us through the hard times. Now that’s worth celebrating!
5. Money can’t buy Peace
Money can buy a big quiet house or a long vacation on the beach, but it can’t buy peace in your heart. What is peace? Peace can be described as a state of calm, safety, and well-being, when there is no fighting, fear, or chaos, and people can live together in harmony. When do you feel peace? Maybe when you are playing your favorite sport, reading a book, or being near your mom or dad?
The opposite of peace is worry and fear. There are a lot of things that can take peace away to cause worry and fear. Sometimes, when you own a lot of things that money can buy, you can become afraid of losing those things. Sometimes when you don’t have as much money as you need, you can become afraid that you may not be able to pay rent for the house you live in or be able to buy groceries. These feelings of fear are completely normal, but they can become a problem.
There’s also only one true source of never-ending peace that can put an end to any fear at any time. God’s never-ending peace is always available to comfort us in moments when we feel afraid. When you feel afraid, ask God to give you His peace. We’ll talk about peace more in this lesson’s hands-on activity.
It’s in the name
This course is called Money Explorers, but the name of the values-first learning program behind it is Rest Over Riches.
The name Rest Over Riches comes from the ideas in the lesson we just explored, how money can’t buy peace. In America, and in many places around the world, we’re constantly told (in ads, on TV, and even by people around us) that having more stuff or fancier things will make us happier. But as we’ve been learning, that’s not true.
The joy of the Lord and the deep, lasting peace that God offers are gifts, free and priceless. Real peace can’t be bought, no matter how rich we are. The kind of happiness that comes from stuff fades quickly, but God’s rest lasts forever.
That’s why this learning program is called Rest Over Riches.
Yes, we need things that money can buy, but the things money can’t buy are what matter most.
Rest first, riches second. Rest Over Riches!
The Best Gift Ever
Ella wanted to give her grandma a birthday gift, but she didn’t have any money. She felt sad, until she remembered something important. Her grandma always said her favorite thing was time with Ella.
So Ella made a beautiful card with her own artwork and wrote a sweet note inside about their favorite memories together. Then she spent the whole afternoon helping her grandma bake cookies and plant flowers in the garden.
Her grandma smiled and said, “This is the best gift ever.”
Ella realized something powerful: The best gifts come from the heart, not from a store.
Words to Know
Peace is a calm feeling in your heart that doesn’t depend on what’s happening around you.
Trust is believing someone will do what they say and treat you kindly and honestly.
Joy is deep happiness that doesn’t come from things, but from love, thankfulness, and knowing you are cared for.
Let’s Play!
Drag and Drop Game
Instructions: Can you buy it with money, or not? Drag the words to the correct category.
Bible Time
“Better a little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth with turmoil.”
— Proverbs 15:16
In the Bible, fear of the Lord doesn’t mean being scared of God. It means having deep respect for Him, trusting Him, and wanting to follow His ways. This verse tells us it’s better to have only a little money or stuff and live God’s way than to have piles of riches and live with turmoil. To live with turmoil is living with that worried, restless feeling inside, like a storm in your heart.
It’s like having just a few toys, but feeling happy and at peace, compared to having a whole room full of toys but always worrying someone will take them or break them. God’s peace is worth far more than anything we could buy.
With Your Grown-Up
If a grown-up or parent is nearby, spend a minute to discuss one or more of these topics.
Hands On
Put learning into action! Download the activity and dive into a fun, practical way to explore today’s lesson.
What we Learned
Money is helpful, but it can’t buy the most important things in life, like love, time, trust, joy, and peace. These are the treasures that really matter. We’ll discover six more treasures that money can’t buy in the next lesson!
Check Your Understanding
High-Five!
Hit play for your end-of-lesson video!