My first job was when I was 10 years old. The local shop hired me to do the paper round. I would deliver 13 different newspapers, 6 days a week in all sorts of conditions (usually rain - I am from Northern Ireland) to earn money. How much you ask? In 1997, I got around $5 for the week! This is a tiny amount, but I felt it was mine. I earned it. I deserved it. I worked hard for it. I could do whatever I wanted with it.
Why give money?
As a teenager, I got better-paid jobs and at age 14, I became a Christian. I attended my local church and heard teaching on giving money to the church. I was reluctant. I felt I didn’t have much money, I was young, I had expenses and things I wanted to buy. However, the more I looked at it, the more I realised God was the giver of all things and we were only giving it back to him. He has given me the health, skills, intellect and ability to earn money, and I could use my giving as a way of worship to Him. The money we have is not ours; it is God's. We should give to God our time and also our money as a way of worship.
How much should I give?
The question of 'how much?' varies from teen to teen, based on their earnings. Therefore, I cannot set a direct amount. 'How much?' is a question each person must answer after examining their hearts, lives and finances. And it is never to be determined by comparing to how much others are giving.
We can examine a list of principals in giving which will give you guidelines on how much to give and how to make your giving worship not just duty
1. Give sacrificially
"And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. And he called his disciples to him and said to them, 'Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on'." (Mark 12:41-44)
In this passage, Jesus compares the giving of 'many rich people' to a 'poor widow' to demonstrate the sacrificial nature behind giving. The poor widow saw the value of giving to God. She saw it was a sacrifice, and you can clearly see her dependence on God. She gave out of a heart that was dependant on God and it was an active choice to give. She gave out a difficult circumstance because she knows her God does not change in poverty or prosperity. This giving came as a huge cost to her. This was all she had to live on but she trusted God as the provider and with her money. She gave in worship to him with a dependent and sacrificial heart. She recognised that God was her daily bread and she was dependent on Him.
Do you give to God sacrificially? Does it cost you?
2. Give Generously
"The wicked borrows but does not pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives". (Psalm 37:21)
God calls us to give to Him generously. Generosity with money should be a mark of a Christian. Money is not evil, but the love of money can easily become a god for many people. Therefore, Christians should be leading the way in avoiding this love of money by being generous.
1. God calls us to be generous with money because we value funding the spread of the Gospel. There is nothing greater in this world you can use your money to support.
2. Our generosity is a response to the great and generous love that Jesus displays for us on the cross. We see a generous God who goes to all lengths to bring us back to Him. If you want to read about his generosity, read the 'Prodigal Son' story (Luke 15:11-32)
3. Give Cheerfully
"Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver". (2 Corinthians 9:7)
God calls us to be cheerful givers. Why does he care whether we are cheerful givers or reluctant givers, if we are still giving the same amount? It's because He is concerned about the heart. He loves when we worship Him through our cheerful giving. When we see what God is doing in people's lives, and support that through our giving, it is exciting and incredible. We can fund ministries that we may never volunteer in. As a teenager you can give to your church, missionaries, and Christian organisations. You can be part of what God is doing right across the world from your sofa. God wants us to give cheerfully because we value Him over money. Giving to God should be done cheerfully, not reluctantly, as giving to what God is doing is way more valuable then a new iPad!
4. Give in Secret
So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honoured by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. (Matthew 6:2-5)
God wants us to give in secret. He wants us to do this so pride does not build up, and so we are giving for the wrong reasons. Jesus saw people giving loudly, wanting others to congratulate them. They were not giving because they loved God; they were giving because they love the praise of others. They loved to look good in front of people. Jesus calls us to give in secret, not boasting about it, but giving faithfully and quietly. He tells us to do this because God will love the worship you are giving him. God loves a heart that is focused on Him during giving. By giving in secret, you are showing God you only want Him to see, because you love and value Him most.
So what should a teen give to God? They should give with a cheerful heart, a generous attitude, a sacrificial amount, and give in secret, fully focused on God.
