Christian Parenting - Teaching Stewardship to your children

What is stewardship?  Stewardship is the act of managing every resource within one's control for the glory of God.  The steward asks the question, "Will my actions enhance the Kingdom of God by displaying the heart of God to the world?"  The steward is concerned about representing his or her master well to the world.  The steward wants to see God's glory proclaimed, God's name uplifted, God's kingdom expanded and God's world cared for.

Stewardship is the combination of prayer, compassion, service, creation care, justice, generosity and simplicity, all rolled into one overarching view of life.  Because of this, the steward knows the heart of the master and acts on this knowledge.  Furthermore, he or she uses everything at his or her disposal in order to cooperate with God in the advancement of His Kingdom on this earth.

So how can this be taught to our children?
 To begin, we need to ensure that our children understand that everything a person has is a gift of God.  A person's money, time, possessions, talents, intelligence, beauty, character, everything - it all belongs to God.  This can be taught through prayer, by modeling thanksgiving, by teaching children to say thank you not only to the physical person who has given a gift, but also to God for using that person to bring us a blessing.  Everything we receive has at least 2 people to thank - God and the physical person who brings the gift. Even those things inherent in a person - artistic ability, mental agility, etc. - come from God and should be acknowledged as such.

As this truth sinks in, the next phase begins in teaching a child that all these gifts should be used to expand God's kingdom.  That may come from asking a question like, "How can you use this new toy for God's kingdom?"  or "What good does God want you to do with your allowance?"  "How can my time, skills, or intelligence be used for God."  These questions will begin planting the seeds that everything can and should be viewed from a kingdom lens.

Third, don't be surprised at what your children suggest.  Let them follow through on their suggestions.  As parents, we might have just spent $50 on a new toy that our child says could best be used to expand the kingdom by giving it away to a needy family.  If this is what they believe and have expressed, then let them give it away, and don't just buy them another one. That trains them in a very dangerous belief commonly associated with prosperity theology.  Furthermore, our children may be more astute to the reality that some gifts are just given to us, so that we can pass them on to others in more need.  This is a wonderful gift.

However, my wife and I have one daughter who would give away everything, but our other 4 kids are on the other end of the spectrum at various stages.  One of them is near to being a hoarder, while the others are just more protective of their stuff and have a hard time giving it away.  Occasionally, as parents, we must force some things to be passed on, but there are other ways of stewarding our resources and talents.  Children can be taught to share with one another and those outside the family.  They can be instructed in how to care for toys, clothing, animals and the land so that it last longer and stays in good condition.  This too is stewardship.

With allowances, children can be taught to start a shepherd's purse, where they place part of their income in order to give it away.  Currently, our kids are placing money into a fund to buy a plane ticket for one of their future adoptive siblings.  They want to buy the ticket to bring their Ethiopian brother or sister home.  This is stewardship.  Maybe they want to start a fund to buy a present for a needy family at Christmas, or to give the next time they hear of a need at church or in the community.  Children can be taught to steward their time by volunteering some of it to causes that further God's plans.  Maybe that is babysitting for a needy mom, a young couple or a bible study and refusing to accept any payment.  Possibly it could be doing yard work for the elderly neighbor.  Maybe it is making bread to give away to a local soup kitchen.  All of these actions are those of a steward using his or her time and resources to further God's kingdom and expand God's love.

Like all the other parts of instilling a Christian worldview in our children, if stewardship is not part of our life, then it will not be passed on to our children.  I hope you will find the training of your children or grandchildren in godliness to be a great means of growing in your own faith as well.  To God be the glory - great things He has done.