Teaching Kids How to Tithe

God instructs parents to teach our children to know Him and follow His ways. This includes being obedient in our tithing. The word “tithe” simply means tenth. When we tithe, we offer to God the first tenth of whatever He gives us. Malachi 3:10 tells us: “‘Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,’ says the LORD Almighty, ‘and see if I will throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.’” Tithing is an act of obedience and trust that God will provide. Not only does tithing help pay the salaries of pastors and church staff, but it also keeps the church building running to accomplish its work for His kingdom.

Here’s how you can teach your children about tithing, why it matters to God, and how He can work through you to bring His hope and love to hurting people around the world.

4 Simple Ideas for Teaching Kids to Tithe

Set aside 10 percent of their allowance for tithing.

If your child earns an allowance, set aside 10 percent so they understand ten percent goes back to God. For example, if your child earns $10, take $1. Explain that everything belongs to God, even all of the money we earn. He allows us to keep it and only asks us to return 10 percent back to Him as a tithe. When you attend a weekly church service, remind your child to bring his or her tithe and let them be the one to place the money in the offering. Let your child know that their tithe helps keep the building cool in the summer, pays the electricity bill, and even helps cover the costs for some of their favorite church activities, like Vacation Bible School.

Let your children see you tithe.

Children learn by watching us. As a parent, show your child that you are being obedient to God’s command to tithe and trust that He will provide for your family. Many churches no longer pass an offering plate and instead prompt people to give on an app or the website, making it more challenging for kids to see you tithe. If your church does offer online tithing, let your child watch you give online. You could also talk about why you tithe, even during times when money feels tight. It may also help if you shared Bible verses about tithing with them. For example, you could share 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 with them. The most important thing you can do is set a good example for your children.

Pick your favorite cause.

In addition to your local church, your family could also choose a special cause to help support financially. As an example, many families partner with WorldVision or Compassion International to sponsor a child in need. Others may elect to help food banks in their local area or animal adoption agencies. Find an organization whose mission aligns with the heart of your family. Adopt that cause and pray about it as a family, asking God to make those dollars stretch to change the world around them. Picking a cause for your family may not directly tie in to tithing, but it can show your children the spirit of giving and how important it is to be a giver.

Set a budget.

Tithing is good to start at an early age, and it’s also essential for your children to start budgeting early. To teach them how to budget, help them divide checks into appropriate amounts so that every portion of their need is covered, and they might also be able to treat themselves. Include tithing as one of those budget items. Treat tithing as a bill, commit to it for six months, and see what God does with that money.

Tithing is an essential part of Christian faith because it’s a reminder that God is our lasting hope. Teaching your children about tithing at an early age is vital because it will help them understand that we should obey God. God calls His believers to give generously, so remind your children of this idea and let them know that their generosity will be returned to them tenfold.