It's All God's
God created this world, and asked humans to care for it. So the talents we have, the money we earn, the house we live in, the food we eat - these things all belong to God. And God trusts us to use them well so that God’s work can be done here on earth. Whether or not your child has graduated from the “Mine!” stage, young children are highly territorial. So this concept of everything being God’s is a tough one to grasp. But it’s so important that we lay this foundation at a young age. A very young child can start to get the sense of all things belonging to a greater purpose, setting the stage for generosity and good stewardship.
Read It
2 Chronicles 31:5
As soon as the word spread, the people of Israel gave in abundance the first fruits of grain, wine, oil, honey, and of all the produce of the field; and they brought in abundantly the tithe of everything.
As soon as the word spread, the people of Israel gave in abundance the first fruits of grain, wine, oil, honey, and of all the produce of the field; and they brought in abundantly the tithe of everything.
Do It
Age 1-2:
Keep it simple. The main concept for this age is that everything belongs to God. Go through your house and point to things, claiming them to be God’s - “This train is God’s. These books are God’s. This doll is God’s.” Go outside and do the same. “This tree is God’s. This grass is God’s. This car is God’s.” It turns into a game for little ones who like to repeat things - and if you do this frequently enough, this concept starts to be part of the way they view the world.
Age 3-4:
Start to talk about the concept of tithing. We are stewards, people who care for God’s earth. So we make sure that we give at least 10% of what we have directly back to God. Get out ten dimes to count and demonstrate what 10% is. If possible, find some sort of task for your family or child that will earn money so they can start giving that 10%.
An example from our family: When our son was 3, we gave him the task of gathering eggs from our chickens (which we then sold). Each egg was worth ten cents. He had four containers - marked “worship,” “Sunday school,” “save,” and “spend.” Each time he got a dozen eggs, he put one dime in each container, then got to choose where the remaining 8 went. It was a hands-on way for him to learn about money and giving, and for him to have ownership in the money he was putting in the offering.
Age 5 and up:
Connect this with starting an allowance. Think of the allowance as a tool for your child to learn about stewardship. A five-year-old is old enough to contribute to the work of the household - setting the table, doing some self-care, and other household chores. And when you share in the work, you also get to share in the money, getting a small allowance of the household money to manage. First tithe, then make some decisions about where the rest of the allowance goes. As children get older, giving up that tithe gets harder and harder, so form the habit when they’re young!
Keep it simple. The main concept for this age is that everything belongs to God. Go through your house and point to things, claiming them to be God’s - “This train is God’s. These books are God’s. This doll is God’s.” Go outside and do the same. “This tree is God’s. This grass is God’s. This car is God’s.” It turns into a game for little ones who like to repeat things - and if you do this frequently enough, this concept starts to be part of the way they view the world.
Age 3-4:
Start to talk about the concept of tithing. We are stewards, people who care for God’s earth. So we make sure that we give at least 10% of what we have directly back to God. Get out ten dimes to count and demonstrate what 10% is. If possible, find some sort of task for your family or child that will earn money so they can start giving that 10%.
An example from our family: When our son was 3, we gave him the task of gathering eggs from our chickens (which we then sold). Each egg was worth ten cents. He had four containers - marked “worship,” “Sunday school,” “save,” and “spend.” Each time he got a dozen eggs, he put one dime in each container, then got to choose where the remaining 8 went. It was a hands-on way for him to learn about money and giving, and for him to have ownership in the money he was putting in the offering.
Age 5 and up:
Connect this with starting an allowance. Think of the allowance as a tool for your child to learn about stewardship. A five-year-old is old enough to contribute to the work of the household - setting the table, doing some self-care, and other household chores. And when you share in the work, you also get to share in the money, getting a small allowance of the household money to manage. First tithe, then make some decisions about where the rest of the allowance goes. As children get older, giving up that tithe gets harder and harder, so form the habit when they’re young!
Pray It
God, this is a beautiful world you created. Thank you for the trust you put in us to care for it. Help us to remember that all we have is yours. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Explore It
- Another example of the “jar method”
- A more thorough explanation of why this is important
