Stewardship is somewhat of an outlandish word in the world today, and it’s becoming especially foreign to the church. In fact, many people today equate stewardship exclusively with money or tithing in the church. But the reality is stewardship demands so much more. It’s about investing our time wisely. It’s about using our talents for God’s glory. It’s about taking care of God’s creation. It’s about service and sacrifice. Ultimately, a steward is a manager, and God wants us all to manage well the things He has entrusted to us.
As busy parents in a culture that competes for our time, money, and talents, you may wonder how you can best plant good seeds of knowledge within the hearts and minds of your children when it comes to understanding and applying good stewardship principles. If so, consider these simple tips:
- Embrace and live out an “others first” mentality. Want to be blessed? Bless somebody else. We’re reminded in Luke 10:27 about giving priority to God first, then our neighbor, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.'” When you start to put others needs above your own, you’ll always be amazed at how God meets your own needs. The more you stress the importance of this principle to your children, the more it will become the norm in their own lives.
- Look for needs and meet them. Is it obvious that someone along your daily path is struggling? Do you see a need that you have the resources or ability to meet? Dive in and offer assistance. You might just be a hero to both the recipient and to your children. Consider God’s instructions to the rich in 1 Timothy 6:18, “to do what is good, to be rich in good works, to be generous, willing to share.”
- Be intentional about giving. Whether it’s your tithe, your place of service within the church body, how you use your spiritual gifts or talents within your church or community, or how your conserve and take care of God’s green earth, make sure your children see you model giving. 1 Peter 4:10 says, “Based on the gift each one has received, use it to serve others, as good managers of the varied grace of God.” Show your children how giving is always more rewarding than receiving.
It’s evident that our culture needs a major shift in the knowledge and understanding of stewardship. So why not start with kids? If we instill stewardship principles within the hearts and minds of children from the earliest stages of human development, there’s a greater chance that we’ll experience a generational shift that will make the world a better place for us all.
Adam D. York is the author of Meet Penny Nickels, the first in the series The Adventures of Penny Nickels, which was created to give parents and teachers a tool to help children learn how to be good stewards of time, talents, money, and so much more. To learn more, visit pennynickelsbooks.com.
