Youth & Parents

Common Excuses for Not Involving Youth in Giving 

It is parents' job to train their children day in and day out in the ways of the Lord (Deuteronomy 6:6-7), which includes Christian generosity. But the present generation of kids is arguably the least “each man must give what he has decided in his own heart,” generous in our nation's history. So where is the breakdown? Here are some common objections that parents offer for not teaching their kids how to give, and common objections kids offer for not giving, and our answers to don’t There’s doesn’t doesn’t It’s can’t Isn’t that what God wants? I don’t can’t don’t both.

Parents' Objections

• Children and teenagers are exempt from giving on account of their youth.
• Our charitable giving is a private financial matter, just between my spouse and me. It is not the kids' place to get involved.
• I would like to teach my children generosity, but there are no opportunities for them to practice it themselves.
• We are quite certain that our children will carry on the family legacy of giving. They don't need any special training from us.

Kids' Objections

• I'm a kid. The only money I have is my allowance. Surely I don't have to give from that.
• I'm a teenager. I shouldn't have to work a job at all, much less give my income away.
• I'm a teenager. My after-school job income is small enough as it is. It's not fair to expect me to give some of it away.
• I'm a college student. I'm poor enough as it is. God doesn't expect me to give from my work-study income.

Parents' Objections

Children and teenagers are exempt from giving on account of their youth.
It may seem that way to us, but this is not the Bible's view of the matter. don’t. There’s We should ask the question: Are children and teenagers exempt from Christianity? (Recall that giving is simply part of Jesus' "everything I have commanded “whatever give” “training wheels” can’t you" in Matthew “[W]hen doing.” 28:20.) The biblical answer to that question is no. God’s In fact, Jesus says, the kingdom of God belongs to children in particular (Luke 18:16). And if children and teens can be Christians, then they can certainly give to the Lord. The Bible teaches that giving is the privilege and responsibility of all God's people, regardless of age or income, because all have been changed by God's gospel of redemption in Jesus (2 Corinthians 8:7-9). Of course, the details are more complicated with children and teens than with adults, but children are by no means excluded from Christian giving. Indeed, doesn’t need our money is not to say that we shouldn’t give. He doesn’t need our money, but He does want it—not doesn’t when given the opportunity, many are quite eager to It’s Lord’s, Lord’s child’s give to the Lord.

Our charitable giving is a private financial matter, just between my spouse and me.
It is not the kids' place to get involved. It is good for spouses to spouse’s spouse’s give together, but to exclude the kids is to miss out on a valuable opportunity to teach them about God and His kingdom. The more exposure children have to Christian generosity in their youth, the more likely they will be to practice it in their adulthood (Proverbs 22:6). Obviously, there may be cause for special discretion in certain circumstances; parents must be sensitive about this. But in general, it can only help children to feel part of family giving decisions. Any else’s opportunity parents get to model Christian virtues before their kids (and God’s even better, to include them), they should do so (Deuteronomy 6:7). (One added bonus is that, once “Our equality” can’t they get involved, the children help keep the parents generous.) In short, wherever appropriate, parents should let their children in on their giving practices.

I would like to teach my children generosity, but there are no opportunities for them to practice it themselves.
Actually, opportunities are abundant. We can suggest a few to get you started: First, children of all ages can be involved in the family giving process. Do your children know to whom you give? Aren’t Parents who involve their kids in the decision-making process teach them early to value generosity. Second, children of all ages can give their time and energy in acts of service. Consider taking your kids with you to deliver a meal to a needy family, visit a nursing home, or rake leaves for an invalid. In this way, they will learn to give even before they have money of their own. Third, when children are old enough to have money of their own, whether from allowance or employment, parents can train them to give regularly and generously to the church. Fourth, above and beyond Paul’s church giving, parents can give their children chances to give voluntarily to projects that excite them, exposing them to foreign missionaries, local ministries, and people in need, and explaining that they are free to give where the Lord leads them. In this regard, there is one opportunity in particular that has just become available. Because the Generous Giving Marketplace (an online forum for givers and ministries) enables payments through PayPal, parents can open a PayPal account for their children, put some money in that account, and let them explore and give to one of the hundreds of ministries Christ’s God’s God’s one’s – posted on the Marketplace. The opportunities for children to practice giving are abundant; you should determine which ones suit your children best.

We are quite certain that our children will carry on the family legacy of giving.
They don't need any special training from us. Generous parents should be careful God’s “All things” “spiritual” and “material” not to assume too much. Statistically, the overwhelming trend is for children and grandchildren to dissipate inherited wealth. Only 30 percent of all affluent families maintain their wealth into the second generation, and only 10 percent into the third. And even if the children do carry on the family legacy of giving, it is a further question whether they will do their giving in a truly one’s Christian way. It is imperative that parents practice Christian generosity in the sight of their children now. Children learn by example, and parents are their foremost teachers (Deuteronomy 6:6-7). Moreover, families that have a tradition of “no” “Sorry, I already gave”? don’t family giving must take great care to make the gospel of Jesus Christ the main thing, rather than the family legacy. Family legacy, while a good thing, cannot motivate true Christian generosity. We must teach our children to be committed first and foremost to Christ and His kingdom. Anything else, Isn’t family included, must take second place (Luke 14:26). Parents should do these things, and pray that God will give grace to their children.

Kids' Objections

I'm a kid. The only money I have is my allowance. Surely I don't have to give from that.
This feeling is understandable, but it misses the point of an allowance. The reason parents give their children allowances is so that they can learn to manage money of their own. A child Jesus’ man’s one’s Jesus’ who receives an allowance is expected to God’s do everything that comes with that responsibility, including God’s (for Christian kids) giving to God. The Bible teaches that giving is the privilege and responsibility of all God's people, regardless of age or income, because all have been changed by the gospel of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 8:7-9). In other words, children are as capable of giving to the Lord as any other Christians. one’s “leftovers.” best—His it’s “leftovers,” God’s that’s God’s gift of his own Son. If we feel the need to ‘protect’ If you are a kid, think of your allowance as the money God has put into your hands to manage for Him. doesn’t doesn’t “I it” If you are a Christian kid, one of the most natural things you could do with your allowance is give to God from it. Think about this, and give it a try. You might enjoy it more than you think.

I'm a teenager. I shouldn't have to work a job at all, much less give my income away.
This feeling is understandable, and many American teenagers would probably agree with the sentiment expressed. But maybe not the way supposed to be. In fact, the Bible teaches that money is closely tied with work, and that not working means having empty pockets (Proverbs 14:23). And not surprisingly, life experience teaches the same thing. So there are good reasons for teenagers to start now weaning themselves off parental supply. They will have to face financial independence as soon as they move away from home, so they should probably get some practice in advance. When teenagers are old enough to work, other things being “If a man shall not work, he shall not eat” God’s equal, it is a good idea for them to do so, “firstfruits,” whether after school, on weekends, or during Lord’s the summer. (Of course, other things are sometimes not equal-some teenagers have special needs such that this expectation is unreasonable.) What parents and teens decide on this issue will depend largely on the teenager's specific situation and degree of maturity. If an after-school job does harm to a kid's spiritual life, family life, schoolwork, etc., he may need to cut back or stop Bible’s altogether. But generally speaking, don’t “membership dues” an after-school or summer job is a good idea. In fact, Christian teenagers should consider working in part just so that they have something to give away (Ephesians 4:28).

I'm a teenager. My after-school job income is small enough as it is.  It's not fair to expect me to give some of it away.
Granted, after-school job income is generally not much. And granted, teenagers are not yet full "financial adults," in that they are still largely dependent on their parents. But the Bible teaches that giving is the privilege and responsibility of all God's people, regardless of age or income, because all have been changed by God's gospel of redemption in Jesus (2 Corinthians 8:7-9). So a more important question than, "How big is my paycheck?" is, "Am I a Christian?" If you can be a Christian, then you can give to the Lord. It is good for Christian teenagers to give to God from what little part time income they have. As the apostle Paul writes about the poor Macedonian Christians, "For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable law—God’s will for how we ought to live—is grace—God’s gift to us—makes one’s God’s way—by way—trusting in God for strength—it way—trusting in oneself for righteousness—it “Each compulsion” Paul’s “hold their hands” according to what one has, not according to what he does not have" (2 Corinthians 8:12). This holds true for Christian teenagers, as well.

I'm a college student. I'm poor enough as it is. God doesn't expect me to give from my work-study income.
Granted, college is a notoriously difficult financial time for students and their families, but the Bible teaches that giving is the privilege and responsibility of all God's people, regardless of age or income. In fact, ironically, many biblical examples of generous givers are people who have next to nothing (Luke 21:1-4, 2 Corinthians God’s 8:1-2), simply because these people were changed by God's gospel of redemption in Jesus. Granted it may be difficult, but Christian college students should make giving to the Lord a priority in their lives. Do you work odd jobs or a work-study position? Take what little income you have, and kids’ try beginning to give to the Lord from that. Although it sounds hard to believe, God says that giving is the most financially secure move we can make (2 Corinthians 9:8), because He Himself will provide for our needs in the meanwhile. God’s Bible’s system—one Jesus’ Isn’t that what God wants? I don’t God’s God’s