Raising the Next Generation of Kingdom Stewards

Imagine a world where every child grows up knowing that everything they have—time, money, and talents—belongs to God. How different would their financial decisions be as adults? How much more generous, wise, and impactful would they become?

As parents, guardians, mentors, and role models, God has entrusted us with the privilege and responsibility of shaping the next generation. Teaching Biblical stewardship to children isn’t just about finances—it’s about instilling a heart of gratitude, a mindset of responsibility, and a lifestyle of generosity that will guide them for the rest of their lives.

Let’s explore Biblical principles and practical ways to equip children with a strong foundation in stewardship, ensuring they grow up as faithful managers of the resources God entrusts to them.

Biblical Principles for Teaching Stewardship

The Bible teaches that stewardship isn’t optional—it is a fundamental part of our faith. When we teach children early about stewarding God’s gifts, we set them up for a lifetime of faithfulness, wisdom, and Kingdom impact.

1. Stewardship is Taught by Example

“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.” — Proverbs 22:6

Children don’t just learn by what we say—they learn by what we do. They watch how we spend money, handle stress about finances, give to others, and make sacrifices. If we want our children to develop good financial habits, we must model those habits first.

Ask Yourself:
✅ Do my financial decisions reflect trust in God?
✅ Am I modeling contentment and generosity, or materialism and stress?
✅ How can I make stewardship more visible to the children in my life?

2. Teaching Stewardship Should Start Early

“These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children.” — Deuteronomy 6:6-7

Many parents wait until children are older to teach them about money, but stewardship is best learned through early, hands-on experience. By making money management fun and practical, children naturally develop habits that stick with them into adulthood.

Practical Ways to Teach Stewardship Early:
📌 Use Jars or Envelopes: Have three labeled containers for “Give,” “Save,” and “Spend.”
📌 Talk About Money Openly: Instead of keeping financial matters private, let children see how you make decisions based on God’s principles.
📌 Let Them Earn & Manage Money: Give small tasks that allow them to handle money responsibly and learn the value of hard work.

3. Generosity is a Key Part of Stewardship

“It is more blessed to give than to receive.” — Acts 20:35

One of the most valuable lessons children can learn is that money isn’t just for personal gain—it’s a tool for blessing others and advancing God’s Kingdom.

When children see giving as a joyful act rather than an obligation, they develop a heart of generosity that will shape their future decisions.

Ways to Teach Generosity:
✅ Let them participate in giving: Take them with you when donating food, supporting missions, or giving to church.
✅ Encourage them to give personally: Whether it’s sharing their allowance with a friend in need or donating a toy, allow them to experience the joy of giving.
✅ Pray about generosity: Teach them to ask God how He wants them to use their resources.

Practical Steps for Teaching Biblical Stewardship

1. Introduce the Concept of Tithing

Children should learn early on that the first portion of everything we receive belongs to God.

Malachi 3:10 says, “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 not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.”

How to Teach Tithing to Children:

💰 When they receive money, whether through an allowance, birthday gift, or job, encourage them to set aside 10% for God.
💰 Help them understand where their tithe goes, explaining how churches, ministries, and missions use donations to serve others.
💰 Celebrate their generosity by reminding them that God honors a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7).

2. Create a Simple Budget

Budgeting doesn’t have to be complicated—even young children can learn basic money management.

A simple way to teach Biblical financial planning is by using three categories:

🟢 GIVE (10%) – Tithe, charity, Kingdom giving
🟡 SAVE (20%) – Future purchases, emergency funds
🔴 SPEND (70%) – Needs, fun money, daily expenses

Making it visual (using jars, envelopes, or a simple chart) can make budgeting exciting and interactive for kids.

3. Encourage Goal Setting

Children often want instant gratification, but teaching them to save for something meaningful will build patience and responsibility.

Steps for Teaching Financial Goal-Setting:
📌 Let them pick something they want to save for (e.g., a toy, book, or experience).
📌 Help them create a timeline to track their progress.
📌 Celebrate when they reach their goal to show them the reward of delayed gratification.

4. Model Generosity in Daily Life

Children should see generosity in action to understand how powerful giving can be.

Ways to Model Generosity:
✅ Involve them in acts of giving (food drives, mission support, helping a friend in need).
✅ Pray about giving together so they learn to seek God’s wisdom in generosity.
✅ Let them experience the joy of blessing others firsthand.

A Real-Life Example: The Parker Family

The Parker family started teaching their kids about Biblical stewardship when they were just six and eight years old. They used three jars labeled “Give,” “Save,” and “Spend” to help their children practice money management.

Over time, their children not only learned how to manage money responsibly but also developed a heart for generosity.

Their oldest, at just 10 years old, decided to save money to sponsor a child through a Christian charity.

“It’s amazing to see them living out these principles at such a young age,” the Parkers shared.

Reflection Questions

1️⃣ How can you model Biblical stewardship for the children in your life?
2️⃣ Are there simple ways to introduce tithing, budgeting, or generosity this week?
3️⃣ How can you make stewardship a regular part of family conversations?

Kingdom Challenge

This week, sit down with a child or young person in your life and introduce the concept of stewardship. Help them create a simple giving and saving plan, and talk about how their resources can honor God.

Looking for tools to teach children Biblical stewardship? Download our FREE Kingdom Kids Stewardship Toolkit and start building their financial foundation today!

All the best,

The Kingdom Investor

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