How to Tithe With Kids

Involve your children in family tithing activities to teach them how to tithe.

Different religious denominations emphasize the need to give charity as part of their tradition and belief system. Parents can imbue their children with the importance of giving charity through a variety of different activities. Within some traditions, giving charity includes tithing, encouraging adherents to donate a tenth of their income on a regular basis. Families may strengthen their own practice of tithing while teaching their children to tithe.

Instructions

1. Include the subject of tithing in your home from the time your children are young. Using age-appropriate discussions, talk about the positive feelings that tithing offers. Express your belief that tithing allows individuals who have the resources to share their bounty with others. When you write a check to charity, let your children watch you. Demonstrate your satisfaction at your ability to fulfill your religious obligations while providing less-fortunate people with necessities.

2. Review the religious texts that discuss tithing. Christians may point to Matthew 23:23 and Luke 11:42, which teach that Jesus reinforced the Old Testament laws of tithing as part of his ministry. Jews can look at Deuteronomy 14:27 and Deuteronomy 10:9. These verses direct Jews to tithe in order to support the Levites during their service in the Temple, but they form the basis for the Jewish rabbinic law that directs Jews to tithe to charity. Muslims can review the laws of Zakaah, which direct Muslims to give alms as part of Islam's Five Pillars.

3. Allow children to select the recipients of their tithing when they donate money from their allowances or pocket money. Supply them with a list of suggested options and let them choose where they wish to send their tithe.

4. Involve children in the spiritual aspect of tithing. Emphasize that, when an individual receives money, one-tenth is God's money. By tithing, we return God's money to Him through the charitable works that we support.

References

• Aish: Torah's Obligation of Tithing
• Bible In Sight: New Testament Tithing
• Answering Islam: The Five Pillars of Islam
• Church and Tea: Teaching Children How to Tithe
• LSD Family: Teaching Your Children To Tithe