Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday morning, Feb. 3, 2002, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia.

HOW TO TEACH YOUR CHILDREN TO GIVE TO THE LORD

By Michael D. O’Neal Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church Albany, Georgia

Scripture Reading: John 6:1-13

Text: John 6:9

John 6:9 There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?

Introduction: Jesus worked one of His greatest miracles, using a “lad” as a tool. A minor crisis had occurred. A multitude of people, including about 5,000 men, came to hear Jesus, and they had nothing to eat.

When they checked their resources, the only food they found was that belonging to a child. The boy could have hidden it. He could have kept it to himself. He could have tried to share it with friends, but it wouldn’t have gone far. What did he do? He gave it to JESUS, and a MULTITUDE were fed!

I wonder who taught that boy to give to the Lord?

Having been married for 30 years, with two grown children and three grandchildren, I look back, and it appears to me that ONE of the great failures of our society in general and Christian parents in particular is that we have not trained our children in the proper management of money.

Perhaps you don’t have little children of your own at home. However, there is still the possibility that many, if not all, of you will have the opportunity to have an influence on children. It may be your own relatives, a Sunday School class, a neighbor, someone you babysit, or some other child.

YOU CAN TEACH YOUR CHILDREN TO GIVE TO THE LORD

I. BY PERSONAL EXAMPLE

2 Chronicles 17:3 And the LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not unto Baalim;

2 Kings 21:20 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, as his father Manasseh did.

Genesis 22:1-2 And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am. 2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.

Outside of God giving His only begotten Son, Jesus, for us, the story of Abraham and Isaac is perhaps the greatest story of giving of all time.

His son, Isaac, was by demand a participant in this great event, but I want you to notice that he learned how to sacrificially give by watching his father’s own example.

A. Abraham gave without debate

Christians come up with all kinds of excuses for not tithing

B. Abraham gave without delay

Many Christians plan to start tithing and giving to missions LATER.

C. Abraham gave without doubt

He believed, according to Heb. 11:19, that God would raise Isaac up again.
We need to teach our family, by personal example, gentlemen, that God is able to REPLACE our tithes and offerings and meet our every need!

YOU CAN TEACH YOUR CHILDREN TO GIVE TO THE LORD

II. BY THE PRECEPTS OF SCRIPTURE

1 Corinthians 16:1-2 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. 2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.

The passage teaches that giving is
Periodic
Personal
Placed
Proportionate
Purposeful

A. Teach them the duty of giving

According to Malachui 3:8-10, to withhold tithes and offerings is STEALING.
Stealing is breaking one of the 10 commandments.
Additionally, the Bible says:
Ephesians 4:28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

B. Teach them the design for giving

God has designed for Christians to support the local church through tithes and offerings.
He has designed for people to take care of their own family members.

C. Teach them the delight of giving

Some people say, “Give until it hurts.” I believe that you should give until it QUITS hurting!
Acts 20:35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

YOU CAN TEACH YOUR CHILDREN TO GIVE TO THE LORD

III. BY PROVIDING HELPS

Matthew 21:28 But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.

The man gave his son one of the best gifts of all: a JOB, a task.

Parents can teach their children to give if they will:

A. Provide a means of earning money

Don’t give them everything they want; teach them to work to earn it!
Give a child chores and pay him until he is old enough to get a job.

B. Provide a means of keeping records

Offering envelopes
Teach him how to compute his tithe.

C. Provide a monitoring of their progress

Check on their giving!

YOU CAN TEACH YOUR CHILDREN TO GIVE TO THE LORD

IV. BY POINTING THEM TO THE SAVIOR

2 Corinthians 8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

Jesus gave HIMSELF! If we will give ourselves to the Lord, He will also have our money!

A. Jesus gave at the right period

He didn’t die one minute too early or too late; He died right on time.
God has ordained that God’s people give on the first day of the week, as God has prospered them the week before.

B. Jesus gave at the right place

He didn’t give His life in heaven; He did it on earth …
… on another planet
… on a far away star
… in the clouds
Paul wrote that the purpose of God’s people giving at the church on the first day of the week was to keep from having to gather the money up when he came. See 1 Corinthians 16.

C. Jesus gave the right proportion

He gave it all!
He gave His life’s blood!
God has ordained the tithe and offerings for honoring Him directly, but truly, we are to honor Him in how we spend ALL of the money He allows us to have!

D. Jesus gave for the right purpose

For others
To save souls
For the glory of God!

You are teaching your children and others to either be givers or takers.

You are teaching them to either look for ways to provide or to look for ways to get a free lunch at someone else’s expense.

You are teaching them to either give to God or steal from Him.

Let’s help our children! Let’s produce families of producers and cheerful givers!