Answers for the Baby Boomers
Demographers once predicted that a third of Aucklanders would be renting by 2030. They were wrong. Already we have reached that figure! Now they are predicting that by 2030 half will be renting. This is consistent with world-wide trends.A Man’s home is his CastleI believe that like marriage, home ownership is important to a family’s stability. Ownership brings identity and citizenship within a community and security to the children. It wasn’t until Abraham purchased a plot of land in Canaan to bury Sarah that the local people accepted him as a friend. Ownership was so important to God that each family in Israel was given their own piece of land to be held forever in perpetuity.
The Selfish Generation
Demographers also tell us that today’s baby boomers are retiring relatively wealthy. They are the investors who are driving up prices and rents. For their retirement they are building new luxury homes and pushing up the price of coastal properties world-wide. Yet many are too self-centred to help their children toward buying homes.
The Purposeless Generation
Because of rising rents and prices, compounded by student debt, children of the baby boomer’s are finding it increasingly difficult to purchase a home. Many despair of ever saving a deposit for a home and choose instead to spend their money on luxuries such as home theatres, and vacations, simply giving up the goal of home ownership. Proverbs 29 verse 18 says “Without a vision the people dwell carelessly” (AV). Isn’t this exactly what is happening to this generation! And these are the ones who will likely retire without savings or superannuation.
The Answer
These should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family…
If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever (1 Tim 4:4b,8 NIV).
A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children (Prov 13:22a NIV).
Liberty Trust provides the perfect answer for parents and grandparents. By starting their family in Liberty Trust, they enable their children to obtain their home interest free, while they contribute to God’s Kingdom and build resources for future generations.
Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it (Pr 22:6 NIV).
We must train as we assist so that our family can apply God’s financial principles to their own lives and be responsible stewards of God’s resources.
Even $20 per week into Liberty Trust is enough to give hope to build on. Build a heritage for future generations; help your children into their first home, just as they did in Bible times.
Chairman, Liberty Trust
April 2004