Alekhya puram

Why Did Jesus Talk About Money When He Didn’t Have Very Much?

Answer: We don’t know how much money Jesus had. We know that he didn’t own a home and that he had few possessions.

But we also know that he had everything he needed.

The Bible doesn’t say that Jesus or the disciples lived in poverty.

Luke 8:3 tells us that the wives of some wealthy men gave money to support Jesus and his disciples.

Judas was in charge of the money bag.

Jesus talked about money because he wanted to teach us how to use it right.

He knew that we would love money and be tempted to be greedy.

And he knew that the love of money leads to all kinds of evil.

How we feel about money and how we use it matters a great deal.

Key verses: Among them were Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons; Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s business manager; Susanna; and many others who were contributing from their own resources to support Jesus and his disciples. (Luke 8:2-3)

Related verses: Luke 9:58; 22:35-36

Related questions: Why did Jesus talk so much about money? Why would Jesus talk about money?

Note to parents: Be careful not to idealize poverty or imply that being like Jesus means going hungry.

If you sense that your child is afraid of being poor “like Jesus,” reassure him or her that Jesus was not poverty-stricken.

He had everything he needed. God met all his needs, and God will meet ours, too.

Did Jesus Ever Have Problems With Money?

Answer: If you mean “Did Jesus have trouble paying his bills?” the answer is no. God provided all Jesus needed.

Jesus never lived in poverty. People gave money to him and to the disciples so they could spend most of their time telling people about God’s good news Jesus had enough money for all his bills.

If you mean “Did Jesus ever spend money foolishly?” again the answer is no. Judas once accused Jesus of misusing money, but the truth was that Judas had been stealing from Jesus (John 12:1-6).

Key verses: Jesus said, Open the mouth of the first fish you catch, and you will find a coin.

Take the coin and pay the tax for both of us.” (Matthew 17:26-27)

Related verse: Luke 8:3

Related questions: Did Jesus rely on money? Did Jesus spend his money wisely or foolishly? Did Jesus like money?

Note to parents: A question like this naturally follows a child’s struggle to understand exactly how Jesus was human.

Make a distinction between needing money, which Jesus did-and mishandling money, which Jesus didn’t.

Taxes are a good example. Jesus had to pay them just like everyone else.

He did not try to avoid his duty to pay taxes or squander his money and become unable to pay them.

Why Should You Pay Property Taxes If You Already Own Your House?

Answer: One kind of tax that local governments charge is property tax. Property taxes are paid by people who own property.

Every person who owns land or buildings pays a certain amount of tax every year.

The amount they pay depends on the value of their land or building.

The owners of some buildings, such as churches, schools, post offices, and so forth, do not have to pay taxes. They are “tax-exempt.”

The government uses property taxes to pay for things that landowners and building owners need.

These include water lines, sewer service, roads, streetlights, and things like that.

Even if your house is paid for, you still need these services every year.

That’s why you have to pay property taxes each year.

It’s just another way for the government to collect money from its citizens to help pay for important public services.

Key verse: [Jesus] said, “Give to Caesar what belongs to him. But everything that belongs to God must be given to God.” (Matthew 22:21)

Related verses: Genesis 47:23-26; Matthew 17:27; 22:17-22; Romans 13:6-7

Related question: Why can’t the government pay its own bills?

Note to parents: It is easy for people to forget that they are part of a community that depends on the cooperation of all its members.

The services provided by property taxes benefit everyone.

Why Do People Waste Their Money On Dumb Things?

Answer: People get bored quickly with something new that they just bought because they thought it would be better than it is.

They may have believed the commercials that said the product would be exciting, but it really wasn’t.

When they finally got the product, it wasn’t what they thought it would be.

For example, they may have seen a game that looked like fun for the whole family to play. But what looked good on TV really wasn’t very good at all.

Some people expect a product to do more than it can. A girl might think that a special dress will make her popular.

Or a boy might think that a certain brand of basketball shoes will make him a better player. Then they discover the truth.

Many people “impulse buy.” They go into a store not planning to buy anything, but then they see something they want and change their mind.

They didn’t plan to buy it, but it looked good in the store. Then later they wonder why they ever bought this thing that they don’t need.

Key verse: Then [Jesus] said, “Beware! Don’t be greedy for what you don’t have. Real life is not measured by how much we own.” (Luke 12:15)

Related verses: Matthew 6:24; Philippians 4:12; Hebrews 11:25; 13:5; 1 John 2:16

Related question: Why are people never happy with what they have?

Why Do People Waste Their Money On Dumb Things?

Answer: Some purchases really are dumb, but people make them because at the time they think they need whatever they buy.

They may waste their money because they believe the advertisements.

Maybe they want to have what their friends have. Or maybe they just don’t value their money and don’t mind throwing it away.

But be careful about calling someone’s decision dumb. Sometimes what may seem dumb to you is really smart.

Remember, you don’t know the other person’s situation in life or his or her needs. So don’t judge others for what they buy.

They may think that you waste your money on some of the things you buy. It’s easy to criticize someone else’s spending.

Key verse: Stop judging others, and you will not be judged. Stop criticizing others, or it will all come back on you. If you forgive others, you will be forgiven. (Luke 6:37)

Related verses: Luke 6:41-42; James 5:19-20

Related question: Why do people spend so much money on things if they will just lose it all when they die?

Note to parents: Try not to criticize how others spend their money. It is an unhealthy habit that cultivates the wrong type of attitude about other people. And if you do it, so will your kids.

What Are Taxes?

Answer: Taxes are money given to the government by the citizens of a country. It’s the main way most governments get money.

They use the money to run the country and provide all the services the government provides.

The elected officials in the government decide how much tax people have to give.

People pay income taxes (a tax on their paycheck), property taxes (a tax on the value of their house), sales taxes (a tax on items they buy), and many other kinds of taxes.

The Bible tells us that we should not try to cheat the government out of taxes we owe.

Key verse: Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government, workers need to be paid so they can keep on doing the work God intended them to do. (Romans 13:6)

Related verses: Genesis 47:23-26; Matthew 22:21; Mark 12:17; 1 Peter 2:13-14

Related question: Why do we pay taxes to the government?

What Does The Government Do With All The Taxes We Pay?

Answer: The national government collects taxes to pay for services that they provide-highways, bridges, courtrooms, judges, military personnel, assistance for the poor, national parks, and so forth.

Local governments collect taxes to pay for the services that they provide-police protection, libraries, public health, fire protection, schools, and so forth.

The government uses money from taxes to provide things that all the taxpaying citizens need and want.

Key verse: A just king gives stability to his nation, but one who demands bribes destroys it. (Proverbs 29:4)

Related verses: Genesis 47:23-26; 1 Kings 10:11-29; Romans 13:6-7

Related questions: Why should we pay the extra tax money to the government when they got themselves into debt? What if we don’t need new roads, etc.?

Note to parents: List some of the services that taxes pay for, such as schools, libraries, streets, sewers, soldiers, sailors, police officers, and firefighters.

Then pray together and thank God for these people and institutions.

Why Is There So Much Tax On Prices?

Answer: Every kind of tax pays for government services. Many local governments charge sales taxes.

The amount of this tax differs from place to place. Some people think it’s high because they forget that these taxes pay for a lot of the things they use every day.

If you and your friends were going to buy a pizza together, it would be right for each person to pay his or her share.

When you pay sales taxes, you are paying for your share of roads, schools, libraries, police officers, firefighters, and things like that.

Taxes ensure that everyone in a town, city, or country pays for the things they all use.

key verses: Each year Solomon received about twenty- five tons of gold.

This did not include the additional revenue he received from merchants and traders, all the kings of Arabia, and the governors of the land. (1 Kings 10:14-15)

Related verses: Genesis 47:23-26; Matthew 22:17- 22; Romans 13:6-7

Related question: Why is the government so unwise in its spending?

Is It Selfish To Save Money?

Answer: Saving money can be selfish, but it doesn’t have to be. We need to plan ahead and save for future needs, so we need to save.

If we don’t, we are being foolish. But we also need to give. We need to trust God to meet our needs.

If we try to save all our money and never share any of it, we aren’t trusting God, we’re trusting in our money.

That’s called hoarding, and God doesn’t like it. Saving should always meet a future need. It should not just make us richer.

Most selfish people show their selfishness by spending all their money on themselves, not by saving it.

Key verse: Don’t be selfish; don’t live to make a good impression on others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself. (Philippians 2:3)

Related verses: Deuteronomy 8:11; Proverbs 21:20; Luke 12:13-21; James 4:1-3; 5:1-6

Related questions: Is it better for people to save their money? Does Jesus want us to spend money?

Note to parents: Emphasize that saving is good if it is for a good purpose, such as providing for some future need.

It is bad if it’s just for hoarding. Help your child set goals for saving. Don’t let him or her continue to save without a goal.

Why Do Some People Hide Their Money?

Answer: Most people who hide money do so because they don’t want their money to be stolen.

The world has many bad people who look for ways to take other people’s money.

So people on a trip may hide their money in their motel room or suitcase.

And just about everyone keeps some money in their wallet or purse when they walk around town.

A good steward is careful with his or her money.

People who hide large amounts of money usually don’t trust the banks. T

hey think their money will be safer if they hide it in their house or in the ground.

But we should not be so afraid that we bury our money. God will take care of us even if something happens to our money.

Some people even hide money because they got it illegally. They know that if someone finds them with it, they will get in trouble.

But in the end they will be found out anyway. They can’t run from God forever.

Key verses: The servant with the one bag of gold came and said, “Sir, I know you are a hard man, harvesting crops you didn’t plant and gathering crops you didn’t cultivate.

I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth and here it is.” (Matthew 25:24-25)

Related verses: Genesis 32:7-8; Matthew 6:19; 25:18, 26-27

Related question: How come some older people spend all their money and don’t put money in savings bonds each time they get paid?

Note to parents: Explain to your child that hiding small amounts of money is fine, but large amounts should be placed in the bank.

It is a safer place to keep money, and the money will earn interest.

Is The Stock Market A Place Where You Buy Animals?

Answer: Sometimes animals are called “stock” or “livestock” by people who raise them.

But the stock market is a place where people trade companies, not animals.

Anyone who buys stock in a company becomes part owner of that company.

They can sell their stock to other people if they want to.

Meanwhile, the company gets to spend the money on supplies, equipment, and workers that help the company grow.

Buying stock is one way to save for the future. The shares of a company are worth money.

If a company does well, its stock price will go up. People who own the Stock can sell it at the higher price.

But if the company I does not do well, the price will go down. People who sell I their stock at the lower price will lose money.

That’s why it’s unwise to put all your savings in stock.

Key verse: The servant who received the five bags of gold began immediately to invest the money and soon doubled it. (Matthew 25:16)

Related verse: Genesis 34:21

Related question: How do you make investments- where do you go?

Note to parents: If you invest in the stock market, show your children what you are doing and how you do it.

Let them see the results as well. If they are really interested, let them buy a small part of your share.

Then when you sell or when they want to sell, return their money plus their earnings or minus their losses. (Don’t shelter them from losses. They need to learn both sides.)

What Should We Know About Saving Money?

Answer: Here are seven important facts about saving money:

• God wants us to do it because he knows we need to.
•  It’s important because it’s part of God’s plan for meeting our needs.
• It’s difficult now but will reward us later.
• It takes planning and work but less effort than getting out of debt.
• Responsible people do it because they know they will need it someday.
• It should be done for a specific purpose, so you know when to use the money you have saved.
• Most people are not good at it.

Try to have a purpose for all your saving. It will be easier to set aside some money each week if you have a goal in mind.

For example, you may want to save for a special trip or for college.

Key verse: The wise have wealth and luxury, but fools spend whatever they get. (Proverbs 21:20)

Related verses: Genesis 41:35-36; Deuteronomy 8:11; Proverbs 6:8; 10:5; 13:11; 14:4; 20:4; 22:3; 1 Timothy 5:8; James 5:1-6

Related question: Why do we need money at all?

Note to parents: If your child doesn’t appreciate the reasons for saving money, give him or her some practice.

Start small and work up to more challenging goals. First have your child save up for something that costs only two allowances.

As time goes by, set bigger goals. Eventually, your child will build a habit of purposeful saving.

What Is The Quickest Way To Save Money?

Answer: The easiest and quickest way to save money is to set some aside every time you get some.

You may want to begin by putting some in a jar. Then when you get a few dollars, you can put it in the bank.

Some people don’t save because they think they can’t save enough to make it worthwhile.

But it may surprise you how much you end up saving when you save a little out of every bit that comes in.

Remember these things about saving:

Have a purpose for your saving and write it down. Example: “I want to buy-

Have a plan. Example: “I will set aside half of my allowance and any other money I get.”

Have a procedure. Example: “Put the cash in a jar every week and take it to the bank once a month.” Or “Write down new total each time I put in some money.”

Key verse: Those who love pleasure become poor; wine and luxury are not the way to riches. (Proverbs 21:17)

Related verses: Proverbs 13:11; 16:8; 19:1; 20:21, 23; 21:6, 20; 22;3

Related question: Are savings bonds good for saving money?

Note to parents: Whenever your child wants to save up for something, ask him or her to describe the purpose, plan, and procedure for the project.

(If you have preschoolers or early grade-school kids, use the words why, when, and how.)

Write down the goal with the amount that’s needed and put it with his or her savings where it will serve as a reminder.

If I Put Money In A Savings Account, Can I Get It Back?

Answer: Oh, yes! The bank is just a holding place for your money. It’s like a big piggy bank. Later, when you need it, you will be able to get your money back.

To get money from your savings account, just go to the bank with Mom or Dad and fill out a withdrawal slip.

The teller will give you the money, and the computer will keep track of how much you took out. The money is yours, and you can always get it.

Remember, the purpose of a savings account is to save for the future. Try not to take money out until you’ve reached your goal.

Do not get too attached to your money, though. God doesn’t want us to trust in our savings.

He wants us to trust in him. God will help you save, and he will take care of you no matter what.

Remember that God-not money, banks, or anything else here on earth-is your provider. Place your trust in God.

Key verse: If your wealth increases, don’t make it the center of your life. (Psalm 62:10)

Related verses: Jeremiah 22:17; Matthew 25:26-27; James 5:1-6

Note to parents: The first time your child opens a savings account, you might want to go back to the bank together after a few days and take some money out just for practice.

Also, once he or she has set a savings goal, help your child stick to it.

Is Buying A Lottery Ticket The Same As Gambling?

Answer: Yes. Gambling is when you buy a chance to win a big amount of money with a small amount of money, so buying a lottery ticket is the same as gambling.

The difference between gambling and investing is that in investing you are buying a product-a piece of a company or a bond, for example. In gambling, you are just buying a “chance.”

And your chances of winning are very poor. In fact, the only way you can win is if a lot of other people lose. That’s not a good or wise way to use money.

It’s fun to play games and it’s fun to win a prize, but don’t let it turn into gambling. A game becomes gambling when you try to win a large amount with a small amount.

Your whole reason should be to have fun, not to get rich.

Key verse: Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God. (Luke 12:21)

Related verses: 1 Timothy 6:9-10

Related questions: Is it wrong to buy a lottery ticket hoping to get money out of it? Where does the lottery money that people win come from?

Why Do People Play The Lottery If They Probably Wont Win?

Answer: People gamble and play the lottery because they hope to win. They imagine winning, and they imagine how much it would enable them to buy.

They think that having a lot of money would solve all their problems.

Meanwhile, the cost of one lottery ticket is very low, so people figure they aren’t losing much.

Playing the lottery is a foolish thing to do. It plays right into our love of money, which Jesus warned us against.

Many people who win millions in lotteries end up worse off than they were before.

They spend all the money and have more problems than ever.

That’s because having lots of money doesn’t solve your money problems.

You need only to manage your money according to God’s principles to have enough.

Being rich and having more can actually make your life worse. You have a lot more to manage and a lot more to lose.

Loving God and others and receiving their love in return are the keys to happiness, not more things or more money.

Key verse: Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows. (Proverbs 13:11)

Related verses: 1 Samuel 8:3; Proverbs 28:20, 22; Luke 11:39; 12:13-21

Related questions: Why do people buy lottery tickets? Are all people happy when they win the lottery?

Note to parents: The lottery plays directly into a love of money. For the person who doesn’t love money, the lottery no attraction.

Does Money Make People Bad?

Answer: Money itself isn’t bad, and money itself doesn’t make people bad. But the love of money is and does.

When people love money, they become greedy and do all sorts of bad things to get and keep money.

God wants us to use money to help hurting people. When we hurt and use people so we can get money, we’ve got it wrong.

Key verse: For the love of money is at the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows. (1 Timothy 6:10)

Related verses: Proverbs 28:25; Ezekiel 7:19; Luke 6:20, 24-25; 12:13-21; 1 John 2:15-17

Related questions:  Does money make you selfish? Money is the root of all evil, but can I do good with it? Why do fairy tales say that rich people are bad and poor people are good?

Note to parents: Try not to paint a one-sided picture of money’s goodness or badness.

It is true that money is a snare and a temptation to selfishness. We have to resist its negative influence; this is one reason for giving.

But rich Christians have used their money to finance ministries and good works.

Encourage your kids to be honest in their business dealings, pay what they owe, be generous, and use money in God’s service.

Using money the right way helps us keep it in perspective.

Is It Wrong To See Poor People On The Street And Not Give Them Any Money?

Answer: No. God doesn’t expect you to give money to everyone who asks.

If you did, you would soon run out of money entirely. But it would also be wrong to never give anybody anything.

There are many poor people who desperately need money, food, and clothes.

It is good that you feel compassion for them and want to give. But you can help them in many ways besides just giving money.

You can also give to food pantries, support international organizations that serve in very poor countries, or give clothing and other good used things to places in your community that help the poor.

Not everyone who asks for money really needs your help. Some pretend to be poor to get money.

Some are lazy and beg instead of going to work. You have to use good judgment.

Your parents can help you know when to give, and you can pray for wisdom.

It is best to give to people you know and whose needs you know to be real.

Key verses: If there are any poor people in your towns when you arrive in the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hard-hearted or tightfisted toward them. Instead, be generous and lend them whatever they need. (Deuteronomy 15:7-8)

Related verses: Leviticus 25:35-38; Deuteronomy 15:7-11; Proverbs 11:24; 14:20-21; 21:13; 22:9; 28:27; 31:8-9; Luke 6:38; 10:25-37; 12:33-34; Acts 20:33-35

Related questions: When we give money to poor people, how do we know if they will use it for clothes or food? Should you give money to poor people if they spend it on drugs?

Where Does All The Money From Fountains And Wishing Wells Go?

Answer: Some people think that if they wish for something when they throw a coin into a fountain or a wishing well, they’ll get their wish.

That’s just not true. It’s superstition. Fountains and magic don’t control anything-God does.

The good news is that many people who have fountains and wishing wells on their property collect the money and give it to charities.

That’s a good way to use the money. It’s fun to throw change into a fountain or a wishing well. But if you do, don’t bother to make a wish.

Instead, pray for the people who will benefit from the money.

Key verse: Many sorrows come to the wicked, but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the Lord. (Psalm 32:10)

Related verses: Psalm 4:5; 37:3; 125:1; 131:3; Isaiah 26:4

Related questions: Is it wrong to throw money down a well and wish? What do the malls and parks do with the money from the public money fountains?

Note to parents: If you allow your children to throw money into fountains, remind them that it’s just a game.

Don’t propagate the superstition that their wish will get some power from their throwing money into the water. God is Lord of all (Psalm 33:18-19).

What Is The Reason For Learning To Save Money?

Answer: It is important to save money because you will need the money in the future for things that you don’t need now.

For example, you may want to buy something that costs a lot, you may want to buy a special gift for a friend, you may have an emergency and need money quickly, or you may want to go to college.

People who don’t save for these things have to borrow money to pay for them.

But then they have to pay back the loan plus interest. It’s better to save up for what you will need so that when you need the money it’s there.

Key verses: Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and be wise!

Even though they have no prince, governor, or ruler to make them work, they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter. (Proverbs 6:6-8)

Related verses: Genesis 41:35-36; Proverbs 10:5; 13:11; 14:4; 20:4; 22:3; 1 Timothy 5:8

Related question: What if I don’t have enough money to support myself when I’m older?

Note to parents: Help your kids divide the money they get into three parts: some to give to the Lord, some for savings, and some to spend.

(One possible plan would be 10 percent giving, 40 percent saving, and 50 percent spending.)

This way they are not frustrated by saving because they have some immediate spending money.

Then help them set a short-term goal for saving. Make sure it’s something they really want. T

his will help them begin to realize the power to purchase the things they want because they have saved for them.

How Does God Get The Money That I Give To Him?

Answer: When people say that they are giving money to God, they mean that they are giving it to the church, to a missionary, to the poor, or to other people in service to God.

In other words, they give money to people in obedience to God or in God’s name. And they are giving it for a specific purpose: to help God’s people.

You don’t give money directly to God. He doesn’t reach down with a hand and take it from you or from a special spot where you put it.

Instead, you give money to people in God’s name and for God’s work.

This is exactly the way God wants it. We show our love for God by loving others (1 John 2:9-11; 4:20-21).

Key verses: Then these righteous ones will reply, “Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink?

Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visit you?

” And the King will tell them, “I assure you when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!” (Matthew 25:37-40)

Related verses: Proverbs 19:17; Matthew 25:31-46; 1 Timothy 5:17-18; 1 John 2:9-11

Related questions: Sometimes it seems like God doesn’t provide for the poor people. Why? Is it because we are supposed to help them?

Note to parents: Take a question like this as an opportunity to explain the different ways giving supports God’s work-through church, through other ministries, and in other countries.

Do We Have To Give Money To Poor People?

Answer: Christians have the responsibility to help people who have needs, including poor people.

One reason for this is that God cares about people in need, and we should all try to be like God.

You can help the poor in many ways. For example, you can give food to a community food pantry or soup kitchen, serve meals at a rescue mission, give money to programs that help poor children, or give money to organizations that help the poor.

Remember, everything you have came from God’s goodness and kindness to you. He wants you to treat others the way he treats you.

Key verse: If any of your Israelite relatives fall into poverty and cannot support themselves, support them as you would a resident foreigner and allow them to live with you. (Leviticus 25:35)

Related verses: Leviticus 25:35-38; Deuteronomy 15:7-11; Psalm 82:3; Proverbs 14:20-21; 22:9; 31:8-9; Ezekiel 18:7-8, 12-13, 16-17; Luke 12:33-34; Acts 20:33- 35; 2 Corinthians 8:9; 9:12

Related question: Should we give poor people money because it’s nice?

Note to parents: This can be a difficult issue for kids because they lack the discernment to judge the merits of every giving opportunity.

Fear of strangers, a sense of fairness, and knowledge that Christians should give all point them in different directions.

Try to do some charitable giving as a family so you can provide guided practice.

Why Do Some People Keep All Their Money To Themselves Instead Of Giving Some To God?

Answer: It is true that some people do not give any money to the church. Some of them haven’t learned to trust God yet-they are afraid to let go of their money.

They are growing in their faith and are just learning to trust him. Some don’t know that they have a responsibility to give. Some are just greedy.

If you know of someone like this, pray that they will learn to trust in God instead of their money.

But be careful not to spy on others and try to figure out who is a good giver and who isn’t.

You can never really know how much people give or whether it’s a little or a lot in God’s sight.

Jesus once told about a poor widow who gave only two small coins (Mark 12:41-44).

Jesus said she gave more than the rich people did because she gave all she had.

Set a good example yourself and let God teach everyone else how to give.

Key verse: If you are really eager to give, it isn’t important how much you are able to give.

God wants you to give what you have, not what you don’t have. (2 Corinthians 8:12)

Related verses: 1 Samuel 8:3; Luke 12:15-21; Ephesians 5:5; 1 Timothy 6:6-10; James 4:2-3

Related question: If you’re saving up for something, is it OK not to give some money to the church?

Note to parents: This question gives you a good opportunity to expand your child’s idea of giving to include other kinds of selflessness.

Whenever your child shares a toy, defers to someone else’s choice of video, or lets someone else get the bigger dessert, affirm your child forgiving.

Where Does The Money  I Give To Church Go?

Answer: It goes to the church’s bank account, where it stays until the church treasurer writes checks to pay all the church’s expenses.

The church has to pay for the building, heat, light, phone, postage, Sunday school supplies, pastors’ salaries, staff salaries, missions, and other ministries and expenses.

A gift to God’s people is a gift to God. Give because you are thankful for all God has given you, and he will take care of you.

Key verses: Don’t you know that those who work in the Temple get their meals from the food brought to the Temple as offerings?

And those who serve at the altar get a share of the sacrificial offerings.

In the same way, the Lord gave orders that those who preach the Good News should be supported by those who benefit from it. (1 Corinthians 9:13-14)

Related verses: Psalm 40:6-8; 51:16-19; Jeremiah 7:21-23; Micah 6:6-8; Malachi 3:8-12

Related question: When you give money to the church, what do they use it for?

Note to parents: Most kids never see where their offerings go or what becomes of them.

It’s OK for them to wonder. Explain as much as you can how your church uses its money.

Name programs that your kids know, point to staff who receive salaries from the church, and mention missionaries they’ve heard of before.

What Is Tithing?

Answer: Tithe is a word used in the Bible. It means “a tenth.” In Old Testament times, God commanded the Israelites to give to the priests a tithe of all they produced.

They gave sheep, grain, cows, and so forth. These tithes were like income for the priests, enabling them to work full-time leading the people in worship and taking care of God’s house.

Sometimes people gave, even more, to say thank you to God for all the good things he had provided. Their giving showed that they trusted God to supply their needs.

Many Christians use the word tithe to describe the giving they do. Usually, they mean that they give back to God a portion of their income.

Sometimes they give a tenth (10 percent); sometimes they give less or more. When we give gladly, we show that we trust God to take care of us.

Key verse: [God said,] “Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me! But you ask, ‘What do you mean?

When did we ever cheat you?’ You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me.” (Malachi 3:8)

Related verses: Leviticus 27:30-33; Deuteronomy 14:22-29; 2 Chronicles 31:5-6; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2

Related question: How much are you supposed to tithe?

Note to parents: Some parents require that their kids tithe; they want their children to develop this important habit early in life.

Other parents are reluctant to require it; they want their children to give willingly.

One way to handle this is to require your children to give, tell them about tithing and what you do, but let them decide how much they want to give.

Whatever the amount, help them set aside a portion for God every time they earn money.

Why Do I Have To Give  Money To Church?

Answer: It is part of God’s plan for Christians to give money to the church so the church can do God’s work and help others learn how to follow him.

Like families and businesses, churches have bills to pay-electric bills, phone bills, water bills, and many other expenses.

Churches also have to pay salaries to the pastors and secretaries. The church’s money pays for ministries such as Sunday school, missions, and special events.

Churches don’t sell tickets for the worship services or sell products, so they get their money from people in the congregation who give freely.

God’s people have always given money to those who lead in worship and service to God. Abraham did it. The Israelites did it.

Jesus did it. The apostles did it. Everyone who loves God does it. They know it is a lot of work to lead God’s people, so they pitch in and help pay for it.

Key verse: For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford but far more. And they did it of their own free will. (2 Corinthians 8:3)

Related verses: Proverbs 27:10; Luke 6:38; 2 Corinthians 5:11; 8:2-15; 9:12-14; Galatians 6:6; 1 Timothy 5:17

Related question: Did God or Jesus say that we have to give money to the church, or do we just do it?

Note to parents: Help your kids understand that the church is a community. It is a group of people who all share a relationship with Christ, much like a family.

And like a family, every person should pitch in and help make it work.

How Much Should A Person Give To The Church?

Answer: Christians are free to give as much as they want to the church. But many like to start with 10 percent of their income.

That’s their tithe. Those who are able should give even more to other people and ministries that serve God.

Just be careful not to brag about your giving. Jesus scolded the Pharisees for boasting about what they gave (Matthew 23:23).

He said, “When you give to someone, don’t tell your left hand what your right hand is doing.

Give your gifts in secret, and your Father, who knows all secrets, will reward you” (Matthew 6:3-4).

Some people need to ask a different question: Why am I not giving anything to the church?

Some people can’t bring themselves to give 10 percent but start smaller and pray that God will help them increase their giving.

It’s better to give something than to wait until you have enough to give a lot.

Key verse: You must each make up your own mind as to how much you should give.

Don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves the person who gives cheerfully. (2 Corinthians 9:7)

Related verses: Matthew 6:1-4; Mark 12:41-44; Luke 6:38; Acts 20:33-35; 2 Corinthians 8:11

Note to parents: Children can be very generous givers. They will often give money to people whom they like just to show their affection or give everything they have on a wave of good feeling.

If your child wants to give extra, talk about it. Ask whether the gift matches the need. Explore other Ways of giving besides handing over cash.

You don’t need protect them from every mistake-they’ll learn from the experience-but you can give them guidance.