As I worked the concession stand at my son’s high school football game, I overheard a teen ask our cashier, “Can I pay half with my app and half with cash?” His friend pushed back: “Why don’t you just deposit the cash later and pay with the app?” The teen shrugged, “Then I have to pay the fee, and I don’t want to do that for just a dollar.”
Young people may not have the same relationship with money as older generations, but they definitely know its value. The question I sometimes wonder is this: Do they understand the value of money when it comes to their faith?
When we talk about faith and finances, it’s important to note this isn’t just about supporting the business side of the local Church. It’s much more than that. Sacred Scripture has over 2,000 verses dealing with money and possessions, and about one-third of Jesus’ parables concern wealth and stewardship. Compare that with other topics and money clearly takes center stage. Jesus doesn’t talk about wealth because He’s obsessed with it, but because He knows: “You cannot serve God and mammon” (Matt. 6:24).
If you’ve never talked to your young people about money, that’s okay—it’s never too late to start. If you do tackle the subject, here are four practices that make the conversation real:
“God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor. 9:7). Gratitude is the foundation of generosity. Before we can ask teens to give, we need to help them see that everything is gift. Teach gratitude through prayer, journaling, small group sharing, and acts of service. When young people connect blessings to the Giver, generosity begins to flow naturally.
Start by talking with parents and parish leadership. Then provide practical entry points: online giving, QR codes, or a basket during prayer services. Don’t mandate it, but make it simple to engage. If you lead large-group gatherings, plan for an offertory and explain why it matters. Make giving part of your ministry’s fabric, and it will become familiar.
Teens may not think about money as much as their parents, simply because they don’t carry the same financial responsibilities. But Scripture is clear: money impacts our relationship with God. Teaching about sacrificial offerings, Christ-centered budgeting, and stewardship shows young people that money is never neutral—it either draws us closer to God or becomes an obstacle. The more confident teens are with money, the better stewards they’ll be as adults.
It’s also important for young people to see the practical impact of their giving. While the Church isn’t a business, it still requires resources: keeping the lights on, paying salaries, funding outreach, and fueling mission. When teens understand that their contributions directly support retreats, service projects, and parish ministries, they begin to see giving not as maintenance but as mission.
God placed us on this earth with a purpose: to proclaim the Good News and serve others in His name. Money is a tool we shouldn’t fear but understand, because of the power it holds over our lives. If we want stronger disciples, we need to equip young people to steward all that God gives them.
As Jesus said: “For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be” (Matt. 6:21). Helping teens connect their money to their salvation isn’t about fundraising—it’s about forming disciples who know that generosity is part of following Christ.