Teach Your Kids the “Why” Behind Generosity This Christmas

I know several young adults who grew up in Christian homes and saw their parents giving to their church, but none of these young people really understood why. One 20-something man said that when his parents gave, it seemed as if they were just “checking a box.”

If ever there were a time of year perfectly suited to teaching our kids why we give, and getting them involved in generosity, it is the Christmas season.

A grateful response

In that well-known verse from John’s gospel, we see God expressing one of the most fundamental aspects of His nature and acting as the ultimate role model for generous living. The Bible says we are made in God’s image. Since God is endlessly generous, that means generosity is woven into our spiritual DNA. To live generously is to live in sync with our design.

Putting a face on generosity

If our kids are to understand why God designed us to live generously, the topic has to be made personal and practical, not theoretical. They have to understand just how deeply Jesus cares about the poor. The Bible says that when we help the poor, it is as if we have assisted the Lord Himself.

The more real we can make this for our kids, the better. That means getting real money involved — their money. Here are some very tangible ways our kids can help those who are hurting. Each one comes with an opportunity to learn the surprising truth about the millions of people — millions of children — in different parts of the world who don’t have access to so much that we so easily take for granted: food, clean water, a decent home, education, health care, safety, Bibles, and more.

This Christmas, as we celebrate and give thanks for the Greatest Gift ever given, is the perfect time to help our kids develop or strengthen hearts of generosity that are central to their God-given design.