For dad only:
Teach Your Kids about Tithes, Offerings, and Wise Financial Stewardship
More than just teaching your children about tithes and offerings, teach them how to use money before it uses them. In addition to this devotional on tithes and offerings for kids, teach them by example the art of living frugally. Wasteful parents create debt-ridden children. Your example in financial modesty will go a long way in proper training.
Self-control
Larry Burkett said he would only allow himself one purchase per month. If he wanted a new cordless drill, that would be his only purchase. He would think long and hard about it. If he needed a new work light, however, the cordless drill would have to wait.
Make spending decisions after you leave the store, not on the impulse while you are there. Remember, your financial decisions affect your children’s quality of life.
Generosity
Experience the joy of sharing with others. Stingy people are grumps. Lend and enjoy life. Teach your kids generosity by letting them be a part of what you do for others. Make it fun to help and to give. Eventually, they will imitate you.
Unfortunately, many parents force their children to share. You did not learn generosity because someone made you give. Your kids will not learn the joy of giving if you force them. They learn by willingly giving. Show them the benefits of giving to the Lord. When kids commit to tithes and offerings, give them opportunities to earn money. Let younger children help put your tithes and offerings in the plate at church.
Saving
Wisdom plans ahead. Help your kids—boys especially—plan ahead by setting money aside for their first home. Help them work toward a goal of starting married life with a debt-free home. You know the stress debt has brought your life. Give them a better start.
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Teach your children about tithing while they are very young with:
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Read this story to your kids:
Everything Belongs to God
“Rusty, I am a little disappointed that you spent $2 on a drink today. I thought I had taught you how to spend your money more wisely.” They were sitting at the dinner table, having just finished eating soup and salad.
“I was really thirsty,” Rusty said.
“I know, son, but you had just come from the house and would be going back home in a couple hours. I do not see why a drinking fountain couldn’t have held you over.”
Rusty nodded. “I just wasn’t thinking, I guess. But there is another problem, too.”
Dad looked at him, raising an eyebrow.
“After we got home, I realized that was my money for offering on Sunday.”
Dad put down his fork. “Do you have any more money?”
“No. I have to earn some so I can pay God back.”
Mom spoke up, “Honey, you should never borrow money from God. Give Him what belongs to Him first, then save, and finally spend as necessary.”
“Why is giving to God such a big deal?” Misty asked.
Dad looked at Mom and said, “Looks like we need to go over this again.” Turning to Misty, he answered, “Well, pumpkin, we do not really give to God. We just give back to Him. Everything already belongs to Him. He only asks us to give back a little bit, in tithes and offerings at church.”
“Why does God need money if He has everything?”
Rusty answered this one, “Because the money we give at church helps pay for the building and lets us a have a pastor who is dedicated to the work of God.”
“Remember how pastor could come and pray with Grandpa?” Mom asked.
Misty nodded.
“He can do that because he does not have to be away working another job. Those who give their lives to preaching and teaching still have to feed their families.”
“So,” Misty said, hiding a smile, “could I have $10?”
“Why?” Mom asked.
“So I can give to God.”
Mom and Dad laughed. “Nice try,” Dad said.
• • •
After dinner, the family went to the store to pick up some fresh watermelon to bring to Grandpa. It was his favorite food.
When they went to the checkout lane, Rusty looked down and saw a $20 bill on the floor. He snatched it up and looked around. No one saw him pick it up. Rusty thought, No one saw me pick it up. I should just keep it. After all, I need money to pay tithes and offerings.
Instead, he turned to Dad. “Look what I found!”
“Someone must have dropped it. Here, put it in your pocket and ask around. But don’t say how much it is.”
Rusty walked up to an older man who had just walked away from the cash register. Dad followed behind him.
“Excuse me, sir?” Rusty said when he got alongside the man.
“What is it, sonny? What do you need?”
Rusty pointed to his pocket and asked, “Did you lose some money?”
“No. I didn’t. At least I don’t think I did.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out some cash. “Let’s see, ten, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, uh…” He looked at his receipt. “Well, looks like I’m missing $20.” He reached into his other pocket to see if he had any money in there. “Well, I’ll be. I think I’m missing twenty bucks.”
Rusty smiled. “Well, here. I found it on the floor.”
The man’s eyes widened as he looked at the money. He looked up at Dad. “Say, mister. You have a real fine boy right there. Yessir, now that takes some pluck.”
“Thank you,” Dad said with a smile.
“Here,” Rusty said, trying to get the man to take the money.
The man stroked his chin and looked at the money for a moment. “Well, I’m obliged to ya’. Listen, why don’t you keep the money. I need something else. Do you know how to rake leaves?”
Rusty nodded. “Yes, sir.”
“Well,” the man glanced at Dad again, “can you spare him for a little while? I have a backyard full if you can.”
“Certainly!” Dad said. He got the location and they set a time to come help the man.
As they left the store, Rusty saw a poster for an MP3 player for only $19.95. “Dad, look! I could buy that!”
Dad looked at him for a minute.
Suddenly, Rusty remember. “Whoops! I almost made that mistake again. No, I have to give God my tithes and offerings first.”
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Now discuss this devotional on tithes and offerings for kids!
What would you have done if you found the money?
Why did Dad not want Rusty to tell people how much money he had found?
Some people might lie and say, “Yes it’s mine.” By not telling the amount, he could see if they really lost money or not.
Do you make sure to give God tithes every time you get money?
Discuss that tithe means 10%
How much do you give for offering?
If they have not made a commitment, teach them to give an additional 5% to 10% offering.
In Malachi 3:8-9, how had the people robbed God?
By not giving them tithes and offerings. He did not bless them because of this.
Why do we give tithes and offerings?
To support God’s work. Not just to get blessed.
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Read God’s Word together:
Tithing is Worship
Jacob left Beersheba and started toward Haran. At sunset he came to a holy place and camped there. He lay down to sleep, resting his head on a stone.
He dreamed that he saw a stairway reaching from earth to heaven, with angels going up and coming down on it. And there was the LORD standing beside him. “I am the LORD, the God of Abraham and Isaac,” he said.
“I will give to you and to your descendants this land on which you are lying. They will be as numerous as the specks of dust on the earth. They will extend their territory in all directions, and through you and your descendants I will bless all the nations. Remember, I will be with you and protect you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done all that I have promised you.”
Jacob woke up and said, “The LORD is here! He is in this place, and I didn’t know it!”
He was afraid and said, “What a terrifying place this is! It must be the house of God; it must be the gate that opens into heaven.”
Jacob got up early next morning, took the stone that was under his head, and set it up as a memorial. Then he poured olive oil on it to dedicate it to God. He named the place Bethel. (The town there was once known as Luz.)
Then Jacob made a vow to the LORD: “If you will be with me and protect me on the journey I am making and give me food and clothing, and if I return safely to my father’s home, then you will be my God. This memorial stone which I have set up will be the place where you are worshiped, and I will give you a tenth of everything you give me.”
(Genesis 28:10-22, GNB)
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Let’s talk about the blessings of tithing!
If a person has a powerful experience with God, do you think they, too, will want to give to God like Jacob?
How are tithes and offerings a form of worship?
Worship is focus. We focus on God with our words in prayer. We focus our money on God by giving to Him first and trusting Him to meet all our needs.
What does God promise to do for those who tithe and give offerings, according to Malachi 3:10?
Bless them and prosper the work they do. In this case, their crops needed rain (opening the windows of heaven).
How did God prosper Jacob?
With much livestock. God gave him almost all the flocks of his deceitful boss Laban.
Role play: You earn $10. You know that if you give your tithes and offerings, you will not have enough to buy the $10 item you really want. What do you do?
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Memorize it!
Galatians 6:6-7
Let him that is taught in the word
communicate unto him that teacheth
in all good things.
Be not deceived;
God is not mocked:
for whatsoever a man soweth,
that shall he also reap.
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Please share this devotional on tithes and offerings for kids with your friends who have children at home. Teaching tithing to children helps them grow up to be good saints in the church and blessed members of the community.
LOVE U FATHER OF FATHERS