5 ways to teach your children the joy of generosity
In a society which places so much emphasis on having more, it feels important to raise children who will strive to find contentment and eagerly seek opportunities to be generous. But how do we shepherd a generation of children in seeing the value of sacrifice and gospel partnership?
Ruth Upton, Brand & Campaigns Manager
3 min read
1. Lead by example
As with most aspects of parenting, we teach by doing. How can I expect my son to joyfully show generosity if I model stinginess and act only in self-interest? What a challenge this is for us to be those who are intentional about putting others first! This could be financial generosity, but also generosity with our time, or how we speak of/to others.
2 Corinthians 9 says “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” We are called to cheerfully show our children that being generous isn’t a tick box exercise, but a way of demonstrating faith and love out of thankfulness to God. This Bible passage calls us to “be generous on every occasion”, even in times of financial strain, and that our “generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.”
2. Serve together
For those with older children, modelling generosity could look like serving alongside them. Involving them in your service, whether that’s at church or with a charity, teaches that generosity is a shared responsibility and something that’s worth their time. 2 Corinthians 9 speaks of service as an act of obedience and a way of demonstrating our thankfulness to God, telling us that others will be blessed by it.
Look for opportunities where you can experience the joy of generosity together, encourage them where you see them being thoughtful, and try to have fun with it.
3. Cultivate a culture of gratitude
Joyful generosity isn’t going to come from a place of bitterness and duty. Be vocal about what you’re thankful for and encourage your children to do the same. Are there times in your day where you can reflect together on how you have been blessed? Maybe around the dinner table, or on the way back from school. Encourage your family to share and be thankful together, knowing that generosity comes from a grateful heart.
4. Bring them into your giving
Someone recently told me that they make their charitable giving a family activity. In their household budget, they have an amount put aside which they commit to giving away, but they decide where to give as a whole family. This encourages the children to feel a real sense of partnership. It helps them to experience the joy of seeing the difference that financial partnership can make and means it’s particularly exciting when they get to hear about what their giving has achieved.
5. Point them to their generous Saviour
Ultimately, if we want our children to love others well, we must show them Christ. In Him we see a perfect example of radical generosity and grace. In pointing them to Jesus, we show them a life lived in obedience to the call of loving our neighbour and sacrificing our own comfort for the good of others. Show them the example that Jesus sets and read scripture together. As you see Jesus interacting with people in the pages of the Bible, you’ll see more of his heart for those in need, and more of how he demonstrates generosity regardless of circumstance.
Read more about God’s generosity towards us here:
The generosity of God, part 1: the Father’s infinite love
The generosity of God, part 2: the Son’s priceless gift
The generosity of God, part 3: the Spirit’s lavish gifts
Find out how to be generous with your savings.
About the author
Ruth is a Brand & Campaigns Manager at Kingdom Bank, specialising in brand development and campaigns that reflect the Bank’s mission to help gospel-hearted churches plant, build, and grow.
Ruth Upton, Brand & Campaigns Manager
