Giving to the Lord: A Fun Way to Get Your Kids Involved

My kids are 5, 3, and 1.  Needless to say, when it comes to money, they’re broke.  We haven’t started giving allowance yet and, unfortunately, their resumes are lacking the experience needed to secure a decent-paying gig.  So, how can we get them involved in the act of giving to our local church or one of the missionaries our congregation supports?  Here’s a fun idea that I plan on unfolding for my family later this week:

1. Sit down with your kids and read to them Matthew 6:19-21, explaining to them that there is no treasure on this earth that we can keep forever, but by giving it away for the glory of God we can “store up for [ourselves] treasures in heaven”.  Explain to them the awesome giving nature of God who  “gave his only Son” for sinners and promises to give us more blessing in heaven as we give to him (John 3:16).
2. Then, tell them that they’re going on a treasure hunt in your house, looking for money they can give away for the glory of our giving God.  If your home is anything like mine, then you’ve got multiple junk drawers, seemingly bottomless collection reservoirs in the crevices of your couch, and ready-made excavation sites under the beds.  Let your kids have at it and set up a central location in the kitchen for them to turn in their findings.
3. Make them an integral party of the actual act of giving as well, so that, whether they’re putting it in the offering plate or making a card  in which to send the money for a missionary, they can experience the joy of sacrifice.