Teaching Generosity to Kids with Dr. Art Rainer

Feb 4, 2025

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“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” - 3 John 1:4

In that verse, the Apostle John praises his friend Gaius and other believers for their generosity toward missionaries. As parents, we want our children to be generous toward God’s Kingdom. Dr. Art Rainer joins us today with some steps we can take to grow our kids in generosity.

Dr. Art Rainer is the founder of the Institute for Christian Financial Health and Christian Money Solutions. He is also the author of The Money Challenge: 30 Days of Discovering God's Design for You and Your Money and the Secret Slide Money Club, a book series designed to teach young readers about God’s way of being wise with money.

Why Teaching Generosity Matters

Parenting is a high calling. Everything we say and do influences our children’s lives, shaping their worldview and their relationship with God. Generosity is part of God’s plan for His people, so we must intentionally guide our kids away from selfishness and toward selflessness.

But how do we teach children to be generous when human nature tends to favor holding on rather than giving away? It starts with a few key principles.

1. Model Gratefulness

Before kids can learn to give, they must first recognize the blessings they’ve received. A heart of gratitude fosters a heart of generosity.

Regularly express thankfulness for the resources God has given your family.
Teach your children that everything belongs to God—we are simply stewards of His gifts.
Share stories of how generosity has impacted your own life and how giving frees us from the grip of money.

Gratefulness leads to an open-handed posture toward money and possessions.

2. Talk About Generosity

Children won’t naturally connect giving to their faith unless we explain it to them. Conversations about generosity help shape their understanding of why we give.

Explain that we give because God first gave to us (John 3:16).
Share personal testimonies of times when generosity blessed others—or when you were blessed by someone else’s generosity.
Connect giving to the gospel: Just as God gave us His Son, we reflect His love when we give to others.

3. Model Generosity in Everyday Life

Kids have a strong radar for hypocrisy. If we talk about generosity but don’t practice it, they’ll notice. That’s why we must demonstrate generosity in tangible ways.

Let them see you giving—to your church, to charities, or to people in need.
Discuss the needs of others. Ask them, “Have you ever needed help? How did it feel when someone helped you?”
Involve them in acts of giving, such as donating food, helping a neighbor, or supporting a ministry.

When children witness generosity in action, they begin to understand its value.

4. Let Them Earn and Give

For kids to truly grasp generosity, they need to experience both the sacrifice and joy of giving. One way to do this is by allowing them to earn their own money.

Provide opportunities for them to do small jobs or earn an allowance.
Encourage them to set aside a portion for giving, just as they do for saving and spending.
Let them choose where to give—whether it’s to the church, a missionary, or a local charity.

Handling their own money makes giving more meaningful and personal.

5. Prioritize Giving to the Local Church

One of the best ways to instill a habit of generosity is by encouraging children to give to their church.

Introduce them to pastors and missionaries so they can see how their giving impacts the Kingdom.
Show them how to give—let them physically place money in the offering plate rather than only giving online.
Reinforce that their giving contributes to something much bigger than themselves.

6. Encourage Giving with Joy, Not Guilt

Giving should be joyful, not forced. Pressuring kids to give out of obligation can lead to resentment rather than a cheerful heart. Instead, celebrate their generosity and show them the blessings that come from giving freely.

As 2 Corinthians 9:7 reminds us, “God loves a cheerful giver.”

Raising generous children requires intentionality. By modeling gratefulness, discussing generosity, and providing opportunities for them to give, we can help shape their hearts to reflect God’s generosity.

Want to dive deeper into this topic? You can read more in Faithful Steward, FaithFi’s brand-new quarterly publication that equips families to align their faith and finances for God’s glory.

To start receiving Faithful Steward every quarter, become a FaithFi Partner by giving $35 or more per month or $400 annually. Visit FaithFi.com/give to partner with us and receive this inspiring publication delivered right to your mailbox.

On Today’s Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:

I have a 401(k) with about $128,000 in it, and I'd like to invest $60,000 into an annuity. The person I talked to said I would get an 8,600-dollar bonus immediately if I invested the $60,000. He also said I could take out 20% of the annuity after two years. What do you think about this annuity option?
I am 51 years old. I retire at the end of next year and have a state pension. In addition, I also have some 401ks and 403bs that I've tapped into over the last, you know, 30 years that I've been employed or contributed to. Instead, what do I do with those 401k's and 403B's at that time of retirement?
Half of my portfolio is in real estate, and the other half is in stocks. The old advice was to move more into bonds as you get older, but bonds haven't done well lately while the stock market has been incredible. What are your thoughts?

Resources Mentioned:

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