“God loves a cheerful giver.”
“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.”
“It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
“Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.”
(2 Corinthians 9:7, Luke 6:38, Acts 20:35, Luke 3:11)
The Natural Human Tendency
Anyone who’s ever spent time around toddlers knows one thing for sure: sharing is not their default setting. Children will stake claims like little landlords:
“That’s mine!”
“Don’t touch it!”
Or in my house: “Don’t sing my song!”
It’s almost funny… until you realize that you never taught them this. You didn’t sit them down to say, “Now listen, if you want to keep a toy to yourself, say THIS.”
And yet, here they are; marking their territories, drawing invisible boundaries around everything they consider “theirs.”
How did they learn it?
The truth is, we don’t automatically outgrow selfishness, we have to be prayed out of it, taught out of it, . Think of it as a ‘follow-come‘ vice, one of those pre-installed defaults of the fallen man, the nature of the carnal man that only the truth of God’s Word can uninstall.
As Romans 12:2 says, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…” That renewal begins early. Even in childhood, we can start helping our children behold Jesus Christ through the Word of God, long before they’re able to read the Bible for themselves.
Giving and Sharing Are Kingdom Values
As Christian parents, our goal is not just to raise “well-behaved” children but to raise kingdom-minded stewards. And in the kingdom of God, giving is foundational.
If they will: walk in divine abundance, steward wealth wisely, live contentedly and generously, then they must learn giving and sharing early.
Because:
- Giving teaches stewardship — they learn that all they have is from God.
- Sharing teaches humility — they learn that others matter.
- Both teach trust — they learn to depend on God as Source, not their possessions.
Even Children of Great Men Need Teaching
One of the clearest proofs that this lesson isn’t automatically inherited is this:
Take the son of the most anointed man of God and raise him in an unbelieving home. He will live by what he’s taught, not what his father carries. The mercy of God may still find him, but it will take intentional intervention by God in His mercy.
This means that even children born into the most godly homes must be taught. They must be instructed. They must be discipled.
And Most Importantly: PRAY IT INTO THEIR HEARTS
As with every godly virtue we desire to see in our children, giving and sharing are spiritual traits and the best way to cultivate them is through consistent prayer and declaration.
I remember a season in my first son’s life when I genuinely worried about how much he personalized everything. His favorite words seemed to be:
- “Mine!”
- “Gimme!”
- “No! It’s mine!”
You’d hear his tiny mouth scream it over the littlest things. And honestly, I know it may not seem like a big deal, after all, he was just a toddler, but it bothered me. I didn’t want him growing up clutching everything tightly or hoarding what he had. I wanted him to be someone who:
- Shares what he has,
- Doesn’t withhold good,
- Is moved with compassion when he sees need.
So instead of just repeating, “Ezzy baby, please share your toy…” I started to pray over him. I confessed the Word of God concerning generosity and kindness over him again and again, even when it didn’t look like anything was changing.
And little by little… I began to notice a change in him.
He’s not exactly where I hope he’ll be yet, especially now that his little brother has started “marking” his own things (sibling dynamics are real!). Sometimes he shares willingly, sometimes he offers things with joy, and other times, he simply can’t be bothered.
But we’re getting there. Day by day, we’re making progress.
So, if your child isn’t sharing yet, don’t panic. Don’t feel like you’ve missed it. It’s not a failure on your part, it’s a process in motion. Keep praying, declaring the Word of God, teaching and modelling.
Because eventually, they will catch on. And when they do, you’ll know, that seed of the Word you planted is bringing forth fruit.
Practical Ways to Teach Giving and Sharing
1. Let Them See You Give
Children learn best by example.
- Tithe together
- Give to the poor together
2. Add an Extra in Their Lunch Bag (Matthew 25:40)
Encourage them to share with a classmate who may not have.
- “Here’s your biscuit, and here’s one to bless a friend who may not have anything today.”
- Let them choose who to give it to, so they too can develop discernment and empathy.
3. Visit Orphanage Homes and Underserved Communities (James 1:27)
Don’t just give for the children. Let them go with you. Let them:
- Sort out clothes they no longer wear.
- Pack up toys and books for children who don’t have any.
- Use their hands to serve.
4. Make Giving a Habit, Not a Holiday (Hebrews 13:16)
Don’t wait for birthdays or Christmas. Normalize spontaneous generosity:
- “That boy at church looks like he needs shoes. Want to help me get him a pair?”
- “We have two of these, who can we bless?
6. Start a ‘Blessing Jar’ (Proverbs 11:25)
Let each child have a jar where they save money or part of their allowance (if they are grown enough to have) to give to others. At the end of the month, they can:
- Give to a less privileged person.
- Bless someone in their class.
- Contribute to a church offering.
Only Open Hands Can Receive
I’ve heard my husband share how, growing up, his parents would divide every income into envelopes; each one labelled with a purpose: tithe, offering, giving, and other needs.
That kind of intentional generosity left an impression on him. And honestly, it shows. He’s one of the most open-handed people I know; quick to give, never clingy.
I remember one of my early visits to their home before we got married. There was a sleek beautiful white vehicle parked in the compound. I remember passing it by and thinking to myself: “such gorgeousness” A few weeks later, I came visiting and the car was gone.
“Where’s the white car?” I asked.
“Oh, we gave it out,” he said, like it was nothing.
“You say??? A vehicle? You gave out a whole car?” Ha! I was stunned!
That moment never left me. It didn’t come with a sermon, just an action, loud and clear. It taught me that in this kingdom, nothing is too valuable to release when God says give.
There’s a principle you must plant in your child’s heart:
“Only open hands can receive.”
When they give, they’re not losing, they’re making room.
So, help them live with hands wide open, not clenched around their things, but stretched out in trust to God and others. Because in God’s kingdom, those who give never run dry.
