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Giving

AGE 8-11

Teach Your Child to be a Good Steward of God’s Blessings​

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God blesses and entrusts each of us with gifts, talents, and resources. Look for opportunities to teach your child to be a good steward of these blessings from the Lord in a way that will honor and glorify Him.

Giving

Followers of Jesus give a portion of their income to meet the needs of God's work and other people as an act of obedience and worship. In Genesis 28:10-22 we see Jacob making a vow to the Lord, worshipping Him, and giving ten percent (also called a tithe) back to God.

 

In reality, teaching children about money through tithes and offerings is not about giving to God. It is about reminding ourselves that we are dependent upon the One who gives all good gifts and that we are mere stewards rather than owners. Giving reflects obedience, showing that we love a God who is worthy to be obeyed in all areas of life. It is also an opportunity to participate in something bigger than ourselves with eternal value.

 

Lastly, giving helps our children understand generosity. In their resource Teaching Kids to Tithe: An Onramp to Teaching Youth Generosity, the Tithe.ly company explains why: “Your children will either grow up knowing how to be generous and put the Lord first financially, or they won’t. As weighty as this reality is, it is inescapable: Whether our children know how to be generous is often up to their parents. Teaching children to give to the church is the best first step in helping children to become primarily generous. But teaching children to tithe does more than rescue them from a life of selfishness – it actually gifts them with an abundance of positive experiences as well.”

Putting It Into Practice

Walking out this step of Giving can include explaining some of the following truths to your child:

  • Followers of Jesus are to give a portion of their income to meet the needs of God's work and other people as an act of obedience and worship.

  • Genesis 14:20 records the first act of tithing from Abraham to Melchizedek. Later we see Jacob making a vow to the Lord, worshipping Him, and giving back ten percent (Genesis 28:10-22).

  • We see God creating among His people a culture of gratitude by setting apart for the Lord every tithe of the land (seed or fruit), and of the animals (Leviticus 27:30-32), and a culture of generosity by giving to the poor from the heart (Deuteronomy 15:7-11).

  • Jesus assumed we would give to the needy (Matthew 6:2-4), but that we shouldn’t just tithe while neglecting justice, mercy, and faithfulness (Matthew 23:23).

  • Paul instructed the Corinthians to steward their financial gifts, reminding them to give cheerfully and generously for God’s glory (2 Corinthians 9).

Next Steps

Model It: Start by putting into practice the disciplines you want your child to learn. This may mean taking steps to become a better steward of your family’s finances. Let your child see that you first give money toward tithing, then savings, and so on. In 2 Corinthians 9:7 the Bible says, “So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.”

 

Teach It: If your child receives money from an allowance, jobs, or gifts, take the time to help him or her divide the money wisely. A good place to start is to set aside 10% for giving, 10% for savings, and 80% for spending on other activities and items. Introduce your children to missionaries or the ministry personnel of your church and discuss how tithes help them do God's work. Participate in ministry and missions as a family so your children can see their own giving at work. (*Paraphrased from “Are You a Cheerful Giver?”)

Let our Faith Path team know how we can support you in this process by texting FAITHPATH to 317-483-1525.

Intentional Faith Path Plan

How will you be intentional this next year?

  • Pray daily for and with my child.

  • Consistently spend time in God’s Word.

  • Bless my child daily.

  • Attend church regularly.

  • Schedule and have regular family time.

  • Create a habit of worship with my child.

  • _____________________________(add your own)

The next step on the Faith Path is Serving, recommended at age ten. We will offer a Serving kit to guide you.

Resources

  • Your Kids Can Master Their Money by Ron Blue, Judy Blue, and Jeremy White

  • 77 Ways Your Family Can Make a Difference by Penny A. Zeller

  • The Mission-Minded Family: Releasing Your Family to God's Destiny

  • Becoming a Servant Bible Study by Not Consumed Ministries

Materials​

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