“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6 NKJV)
I have found that the topic of stewardship is largely misunderstood. For many, it is nothing more than a question about money—often relegated to the moment the offering plate is passed at church. I believe that allowing such a narrow view of stewardship to go unchallenged has done a disservice to the spiritual growth potential of many believers.
But I digress from that broader subject to another misfortune: the belief that stewardship, perhaps more specifically, financial stewardship, is an adult-only matter. In the context of budgets, paying off debt, and returning tithe and offerings from our income, many feel that only the adults in the room need be concerned with subjects such as stewardship.
Stewardship does not begin at age 18 or with the first paycheque—it begins in childhood. Children have been entrusted with time, talents, and treasure from the Lord—they are stewards. How they manage what is in their care depends upon the education, training, and mentorship they receive.
In a culture shaped by consumerism, digital influencers, and increasing financial pressures, our children are absorbing messages about money and possessions long before they understand them. In light of this reality, we must recognize: If the home and church do not intentionally disciple children in whole-life stewardship, including financial stewardship, the culture around them will do the teaching.
From the Bible’s perspective, stewardship is more than finances. Before we talk to our children about handling money or managing other resources that God has placed in their care, we should help them understand guiding principles that can speak into their lives.
1. We Belong to God
“You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price.”—1 Corinthians 6:19-20, NLT
As parents, teachers, and church family members, we are privileged to teach children and young people that they are created in the image of God. Every child has inherent dignity, value, and responsibility.
As children understand their own value, they learn the value of others. Understanding God-given identity shapes how they treat others and encourages respect, kindness, and care. Stewardship begins with how children manage themselves and their relationships.
Children understand belonging before budgeting; generosity begins with understanding the value of people. A deep sense of belonging in God’s family—where worth is rooted in creation and redemption—lays a foundation for wise stewardship practices later.
May our children see in us lives shaped by God-given identity—marked by humility, respect, and genuine, patient care for others. From this foundation of identity, they begin to understand that valuing people over possessions is at the heart of faithful stewardship.
2. Everything We Have is a Gift
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights…”—James 1:17, NKJV
“God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.” —1 Peter 4:10, NLT
As children grow, we must help them understand the difference between stewardship and ownership. God is the Owner of all things and the Giver of every gift, and so children are stewards, or caretakers for the Lord.
Recognizing that all talents, possessions, and opportunities are entrusted—not owned—helps children use them to bless others and worship God. In this way, they learn that all they do is for God’s glory. Gratitude formed early helps resist performance culture, because God—not the child—is at the centre.
May our children see in us lives that are open-handed—grateful for what God has given, and eager to use those gifts in service to Him and to others.
3. True Wealth is More Than Riches
“Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”—Luke 12:15, NKJV
“Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth.”—1 Timothy 6:6, NLT
Ecclesiastes 2:4-11 tells how Solomon’s accumulation of riches and possessions did not bring true happiness, nor give meaning to his life. However, the Bible reveals that recognizing God’s provision and receiving it with gratitude leads to contentment and lasting joy. Gratitude and contentment guard against the curse of comparison, and the temptation to accumulate more.
Paul teaches that true joy is found in a relationship with God and is expressed through generosity (see 1 Tim. 6:17-19). As children are encouraged to invest their time, talents, and treasures in kingdom purposes, they learn to live by eternal values rather than consumer culture. They will see that true wealth is not found in bank account balances or real estate portfolios, but in a humble walk with God, and sharing His love and faithfulness in our relationships.
May our children see in us a different way of living—one marked not by striving for more, but by gratitude for what God has given, contentment in His provisions, and a willingness to share freely with others.
4. Stewardship is Worship
“Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship.”—Romans 12:1, CSB)
“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” —1 Corinthians 10:31, NKJV
We want to help our children understand that how they live reflects what they believe about God, and that their daily choices reveal how they trust Him. Faith shapes what we do, and what we do reveals our faith.
Stewardship is more than activity; it’s a posture of the heart. When God is first in our lives and we desire to honour Him, daily choices become acts of worship. As we teach our children that giving, serving, and using gifts for God is worship, a life of faithful, joyful stewardship can be fostered. True giving and sharing flow not from obligation, but from a heart that loves God.
Of course, children learn stewardship (like many things) by doing, not just by hearing. So, it is helpful to connect daily stewardship actions to other practices of worship. Pray before giving, before offering talents in music, or before participating in service projects. Celebrate stories of generosity that reflect a believer’s worship of God, and trust in Him.
May our children see in us lives of worship and a faith that is lived out daily—where trusting and honouring Him is not confined to a moment but is expressed in the everyday choices we make.
A Call to the Church
The teaching of these principles falls primarily to parents and guardians. However, stewardship is not only taught at home. The church also shares responsibility in shaping young stewards, and the spirit of stewardship is caught in the culture of the congregation.
Our children do notice how leaders talk about stewardship. They notice transparency, mission focus, and adult generosity. When stewardship and generosity are modelled consistently in the life of the church, children absorb it as normal Christian living.
Church members can model visible giving, even in an increasingly digital giving environment. Church boards can cooperate with their children’s and youth leaders to offer service opportunities. Prayer should be taught as stewardship in action, and worship as participation and giving, not performance and recognition.
We are not only raising children; we are cooperating with God in shaping the young hearts and lives of those who will become the next generation of deacons, elders, Sabbath school teachers, pastors, missionaries, and faithful Christian witnesses in our world. By teaching our children the principles of stewardship in the church, we are investing in the future faithfulness of our congregations.
Stewardship is caught before it is understood. The next generation will not become generous adults if they do not see generosity modelled for them early. The culture we choose to build today will shape the destiny of the church tomorrow.
“These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up” (Deut. 6:6-7, CSB).
Perhaps the question we must prayerfully consider is this: What are we intentionally passing on to the next generation?
Our children are learning everyday—through what we say, what we prioritize, and how we live. They are forming habits, values, and beliefs about God, about money, and about life itself. The question is not whether they are being shaped, but who and what is shaping them.
Let us be intentional—in our homes, in our churches, and in our own lives—to model what it means to belong to God, to receive all things as His gifts, and to live with open hands in worship and trust.
If we do, by God’s grace, we will not only teach stewardship—we will raise a generation of faithful, generous disciples.
By Pastor Jason Williams
PACeS School Pastor/Stewardship Coordinator, Alberta Conference
*If you would like to learn more about the goals and objectives of the Alberta Conference Stewardship Ministries department or learn about resources available to help you or your church grow in faithfulness, please visit www.albertaadventist.ca/stewardship, or contact Pastor Jason Williams at stewardship@albertaadventist.ca.