It’s natural for little children to ask for things – new toys, sweets, clothes – without understanding the value of money or where it comes from. I remember one such moment vividly: a small yet significant parenting opportunity that has stayed with me and continues to guide how I teach about giving, faith, and stewardship.
One day, when I received my monthly salary, I decided to make it more than just a routine transaction – I wanted it to become a life lesson for my daughter, one she might carry with her into adulthood. I called my wife and our four-year-old daughter into the bedroom. Placing the salary on the bed, I began to explain – she was too young to fully grasp the meaning, yet old enough to observe and be shaped by the values we lived out as a family.
“This is the salary the church gives us each month,” I told her. “From this, I first take one-tenth to give back to God. This is called a tithe – an offering of thanksgiving and obedience.”
I paused, then added, “This part is for helping others. This is for groceries. This is for bills – like school fees, electricity, mobile phone recharge, the newspaper, and others. And this… this is what we have left.”
To my surprise, her face crumpled, and she began to cry. “Why are you telling me all this?” she asked through her tears.
Her question pierced my heart – not in defiance, but with innocent confusion.
I gently replied, “Because when you keep asking for things, I want you to understand that we cannot always have everything we want. I cannot take what is not ours. Everything we have is given by God, and we must use it wisely. We give back to Him first because He is the One who provides.”
This moment may have seemed too weighty for a four-year-old, but I believed then – and still do – that small seeds planted early have the potential to grow deep roots. Of course, such lessons are absorbed gradually over time, but even a single impression can begin shaping a heart that honors God.
The Heart Behind the Tithe
Tithing is more than just setting aside 10% of one’s income – it is an act of faith, worship, and gratitude. As God says in Malachi 3:10: “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse… Test me in this… and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven.” Tithing is a tangible way of acknowledging that everything we have ultimately belongs to God, and we are stewards entrusted to manage His provision.
By teaching my daughter about tithing, I wasn’t merely talking about money – I was helping her learn to put God first, to see giving as an act of love and obedience, and to live with contentment and trust in His provision.
Even at her young age, I wanted her to understand that money isn’t just for satisfying our desires. It’s about managing what we receive with integrity, helping others, meeting our needs without greed, and honoring God with the first fruits of our labor.
Modeling Generosity and Responsibility
As parents, one of the most powerful things we can do is model our values through real-life actions. Children may not always understand sermons or lectures, but they absorb what they see lived out before them.
That day, I didn’t expect my daughter to fully understand the concept of tithing – but I wanted her to witness what our family prioritizes: that God comes first, and we trust Him with the rest. In trying to teach her, I was simply passing on what had been taught to me in my own childhood.
The lesson may have seemed too abstract for her tender age, but I believe that seeds were planted. One day, she will grow up remembering that her father didn’t just give – he gave first to God. And that, I hope, will inspire her to do the same.
A Legacy I Witnessed Growing Up
These values were not new to me. As I grew up, I witnessed the same principle of putting God first in my own family. My parents would always set aside the first fruits of our harvest – from the field and the garden – as a thanksgiving offering to God. It wasn’t just a ritual, but a heartfelt act of reverence and gratitude, reminding us that all blessings come from His hand.
We practiced jhum cultivation, and I remember clearly the joy and care with which my parents gathered the first cucumbers, maize, beans, and vegetables. Before anything was consumed or sold, a portion was dedicated to God – whether taken to the church or given to someone in need.
After that, my mother would prepare portions of the harvest and send me to deliver them to neighbors and relatives. Carrying a basket filled with fresh produce, I would go from house to house, watching smiles appear on faces as we shared what God had given us. It was her way of spreading joy and embodying generosity.
Through those simple yet profound acts, I learned that giving is not only about obedience to God – it’s about loving others, building relationships, and rejoicing in God’s goodness as a community.
Those early experiences planted deep values in me. They shaped my understanding of giving – not as an obligation, but as a way of life grounded in worship, generosity, and gratitude.
Why Start Early?
Young children are naturally curious, impressionable, and quick to form habits that can last a lifetime. If they learn early on that money is something to be used wisely and generously, they grow into adults who view their finances through a biblical lens.
Starting early allows parents to shape their children’s perspective before the world does. When children see their parents giving joyfully and intentionally, they begin to understand that giving isn’t about losing something, but about participating in something bigger – God’s work on earth.
Introducing the habit of tithing early teaches responsibility, self-discipline, and contentment. It anchors them in the truth that God is the ultimate provider and worthy of our first and best.
Practical Tips for Parents
Teaching tithing to children doesn’t have to be complex. Consider using Bible stories like the widow’s offering or the boy who gave his five loaves and two fish. These narratives show that giving matters to God, no matter how small the gift.
Celebrate when your child gives to the church or helps someone in need. Acknowledge the heart behind their actions – this reinforces the value of generosity.
Allow your child to participate actively by dropping their tithe into the offering box or plate themselves. Participation fosters a sense of ownership.
Lead by example. Children often imitate what they see. When they observe you prioritizing tithing, they’ll begin to understand that it’s a normal and important part of life.
Observations from Ministry
Over the years, I’ve observed during worship services how differently children understand giving depending on how their homes approach it. Some joyfully rush to drop their notes in the offering box, while others appear indifferent – perhaps never having seen their parents give or spoken about it at home.
In Sunday School, we sometimes observe children reenacting church life. It’s revealing how often they imitate the offering time. This shows that even at a young age, they notice and internalize what is modeled. The home remains the first place of worship and formation, and what is lived there is what is carried into church life.
Children today are constantly influenced by consumerism and the “more is better” mindset. Teaching them to tithe helps counter the “I want more” mindset with a spirit of gratitude and contentment.
Biblical Principles Behind the Practice
The principle of tithing in Scripture is rooted in honoring God with the firstfruits of what He has provided: “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing…”(Proverbs 3:9–10).
In the Old Testament, the tithe (10%) was based on the gross increase – as a symbol of giving to God first, even before meeting other obligations. The New Testament, however, shifts the focus more toward the heart and attitude of giving: “Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7)
The heart of the matter is not arithmetic, but attitude. Ideally, tithing from the gross income reflects giving from what God has blessed us with in total. But if you’re currently unable to do that due to genuine financial burdens – like EMIs or limited income – it’s not a sin to tithe from your net income or to start with a smaller portion.
God sees your heart, your intent, and your faithfulness – not just the amount. As seen in the story of the widow who gave two small coins (Mark 12:41–44), Jesus honors the heart of the giver more than the size of the gift.
Tithing in a Materialistic World
In today’s world of instant gratification, tithing can seem countercultural. While society tells us to get more, keep more, and spend more, the practice of tithing calls us to pause, reflect, and surrender. It invites us to trust God rather than wealth.
Jesus affirmed giving not just as a duty, but as a loving response. He spoke more about money than almost any other topic – not because He valued money, but because He understood its power over the human heart.
Tithing becomes a spiritual discipline that dethrones materialism and enthrones God. It helps us live out the truth that our security does not lie in possessions, but in God’s unchanging provision.
Stories of Faithful Givers
I’ve had the privilege of knowing many believers who tithe faithfully, even through difficult seasons. I know of a mother who always set aside her tithe – even when her monthly income barely met her family’s needs. Time and again, she experienced God’s provision in unexpected ways: a neighbor offering help, an unexpected love gift, a medical bill covered.
Another couple, who started tithing from their college scholarships, are now joyfully serving in good positions, helping people. They’ve never had excess wealth, but they have never lacked what they needed.
Such testimonies are powerful reminders that tithing is not about how much we give, but about whom we trust.
Growing in Faith, Not Guilt
Tithing should never become a legalistic burden. If you’re giving with a heart of love and trust – even sacrificially from limited means – God honors that. We serve a gracious God who understands your situation.
You might prayerfully start with what is possible now and grow toward the full tithe as God enables you. That kind of intentional growth honors God and reflects a desire to mature in stewardship.
Ultimately, tithing is not about a rigid formula, but a joyful response to God’s provision and love. Let your giving be an act of worship, not a weight of guilt. And remember, God looks not just at the portion, but at the proportion – and the heart behind it.
Passing Down a Legacy of Trust
In the end, teaching tithing is about more than money – it’s about passing down a legacy of trust in God’s provision and shaping hearts that honor Him first. I pray that as my daughter grows, she will not just remember the lesson – but live it, with faith, joy, and generosity.
We may not raise wealthy children, but we can raise spiritually rich ones. And that, I believe, is a far greater legacy to leave behind.
~ Meyu Changkiri
