The not-so-secret secret in America is that we are all in debt. From the white pillars of D.C. to cul-de-sac communities, studies show that the average American is swimming in thousands of dollars of debt. Despite the economic turbulence, high school students often overlook their financial responsibility. We should replace this attitude with one of saving, investing, and giving in order to prepare ourselves for more financial responsibilities and to lead, love, and give, as an example of Christ.

The outlook for high schoolers is bleaker when college debt is factored in. The majority of us will have at least $20,000 of debt by the time we graduate college. Forty-two percent of us won’t know when we can expect to be free of this debt, and 20 percent of us expect to die without having the debt paid off.

As if adding insult to injury, credit card debt in the United States hit an all-time high in 2018 at $870 billion. It is also the fastest rising source of debt.

However, debt as an adult stems from habits formed during the developing years. Former heavyweight champion boxer Mike Tyson notoriously declared bankruptcy after blowing through an estimated $700 million. Although he made even more money, he was still in debt as he found new ways to spend the money. This reflects on our culture, as the U.S. is considered the wealthiest country in the world yet owes China trillions of dollars.

Our unique position in high school, where we have few financial responsibilities but might have a steady income, should be seen as an opportunity to prepare for the future. In Proverbs 30:24–25 the Bible highlights the simple wisdom of ants who “are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer.” In the same way, we must apply these principles to our small wealth in high school. The practice of saving a portion of a paycheck, taking time to think through the necessity of every purchase, and keeping a monthly budget are practices that could turn the tide of money management and debt after college.

College loans and a mortgage on a house are types of debt that might be inevitable for high school students planning for the future. While money made during high school might do next to nothing in reducing these debts, the habits practiced during high school could help in paying off these future debts. Radio show host and former realtor Dave Ramsey often says that in life you have to “live like no one else now, and later you can live and give like no one else.” Ramsey loves to say this because he has seen people discipline their money habits in order to eliminate debt. However, it is easier said than done, and there will always be emergencies that take up money. This is where the ants’ wisdom pays off. With savings, not only are you prepared to pay for these emergency expenses, but also you will have the ability to not go into debt to survive.

There is an even more compelling call to be financially responsible during high school. Generosity is a staple of Christ’s ministry in the New Testament, and He used generosity to help people in times of need. The importance of generosity is that it is an unreciprocated gift. The giver should not expect to see his gift returned in any way. We should continue to motivate ourselves to build wealth and care for our resources so that we can be truly generous to those around us.

In high school, we have some opportunities to give during tithes and taking your siblings out on trips or to restaurants. By paying for the fun times and food, you can really minister to your family and create a bond. These might seem like small opportunities; however, they can be sources of encouragement to the receiver and motivate them to be generous to others.

The Lord has blessed many of us in high school with jobs, and we must seek to pass on this blessing to others and to multiply our talents. Through good stewardship in financial matters, we can stand as a city on a hill to guide others to Christ.

Zuri Cassell will begin his first year at Indiana University in Bloomington this fall. In high school, he played basketball and ran cross country. During his senior year, he interned at the Sagamore Institute think tank where he contributed to research on aid development in Africa.