Smart Money Smart Kids - Raising Money-Smart KidsSýnishorn

Day 07: We're the Managers (Giving)

"I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing." (Genesis 12:2 NKJV)

Like most girls, I spent a lot of time at the mall as a teenager. Pretty much every Saturday, Mom would drop a group of us at the entrance of our local mall, and we'd spend hours just walking around. A lot of times we didn't buy anything except a taco at the food court, but it was still fun.

One day, though, Mom challenged my sister, Denise, and I to do something out of the ordinary. She gave us an envelope of cash and told us that we were going to take two girls living at a local ministry shopping for the day.

Things felt a little awkward at first. We didn't know these girls and had no idea what to say to them. But by the time we got to the mall, we were laughing and talking like old friends. And we had a blast helping them pick out clothes for their wardrobe makeovers.

When Mom asked later how things went, I had to confess that helping my new friends was actually more fun than anything else I could have planned.

As I thought about it, I realized that it felt so good because we were giving something of ourselves. While Mom and Dad provided the money, Denise and I used our time on a Saturday afternoon and our talents as "personal shoppers" to bless someone else.

Because He's an incredible Giver, God blesses us with so much. He gives us our time, our talents, and our resources. But He doesn't just give us those things for our own benefit. He blesses us so we can bless others.

That's called stewardship, and it's an important lesson your kids need to learn if they're going to win with money. God owns it all, but we manage His stuff for His honor and glory.

Sometimes that includes our money, but it also can mean sharing time and abilities. Either way, stewardship moves your kids outside their little bubble so they can be Jesus' hands and feet in the world.

It reminds them that they have been blessed to be a blessing.