Faith & Finance - Teaching Generosity to Kids with Dr. Art Rainer

“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, “H