What We Tell Our Students About Tithing
We are in the middle of a 6 week series about priorities. The first couple of weeks have been focused on time and now we are making a transition to…
Anytime you do something different you are guaranteed feedback. When we started an offertory at our high school worship program the feedback we got was not initially positive.
Courtesy of free pictures of money/Creative Commons License
There was confusion as to why we were asking teens to give, when they don’t have a regular income. Talking to teens about tithing might seem disingenuous but the reality is that it’s essential. The reason you need to teach your teens about tithing is because:
MONEY COMPETES FOR THEIR HEART
Teens need to trust God first. And that can be hard because the world tells us money can provide a lot. Jesus warns us of this:
“No one can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” – Matthew 6:24
Teenagers are being targeted all the time by ads to spend more. They are being told the only way to success is through financial success. As a church you need to teach teens to trust God and that He will always provide.
IT WILL HELP THEM WIN FINANCIALLY
Tithing will not only build trust in God, but allow us to receive His blessings. When teens learn to tithe they’ll discover that God will bless them:
Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, and see if I do not open the floodgates of heaven for you, and pour down upon you blessing without measure! – Malachi 3:10
On top of God’s blessings they’ll receive tax benefits and learn how to be more generous. Tithing is also a mindset of investing. If they learn how to invest in heaven they’ll learn how to invest in themselves better.
YOUR CHURCH WILL BE BLESSED IN RETURN
Imagine never doing another fundraiser ever again. I know that sounds like a pipe dream, but it’s possible if you start raising givers. If teens tithe you are creating a generation of givers who will bless the local church and allow it to reach new heights.
TO GET TEENS TITHING
Teach Them
Make it a priority to talk about tithing and to show them where the Bible talks about giving. Let them know that they are stewards and remind them that God will bless them when they tithe.
Provide Opportunities
Teenagers need opportunities to try it out. Create an opportunity where teens can engage in worship and offer up the money God has blessed them with. Point out places where they can give and make it clear.
Build Their Confidence
One of the reasons teens do not give is because they do not know how to manage money. Provide opportunities (i.e. Generation Change) where they can gain confidence with money.
Talking about money is personal and there will be emotional pushback. But, you need to talk to your teens about the principle because they can’t afford to miss out on God’s blessings.
[reminder] How do you talk to your teens about tithing? [/reminder]