A Lesson In Giving

While attending a Bible study last year, my daughter brought home a tithe bank. Using what is typically used for soup to go at a local restaurant, this handy little bowl was crafted into a lovely little piggy bank. In it, she told me, was "money for God." Anytime she received money, some would be deposited into her piggy bank, and some into the box of God's money. We only prompted her to place money in there when she first received the tithing bank, but ever since then, she has done so on her own accord.

 My aunt sent her some money, and as she saw it in the card and exclaimed, "I got some dollars!" She then said, "Let's put some in my bank and some in the box for God."

Every now and then we received questions from her asking what God would do with the money. We, in trying to keep things simple, told her He would use it to help others, and that we could trust Him to take really good care of it and use it well.

 Today, with the bowl nearly overflowing, she said, "We need to take this money to church and give it to God today." We transferred the money into a sandwich bag and as she walked into her Sunday school class, she held it out to her teacher and promptly stated, "This is for God." As soon as the teacher took the bag, she was off to play with the other kids. The teacher was smiling and laughing, and we did the same.

What a great little teacher my child is. She was told that the money collected in that container was for God, and that is exactly what it has been. She easily deposited more coins in there than her own piggy bank, and I have had a front row seat to every moment. Granted, she does not have bills to pay, she does not know what purchasing power is, but at this early age, she knows the importance of setting some of the money aside for God. She knows He will do something with it, something good. She handed it over freely, never once did she recount or try to slip some of the coins out and into her own piggy bank. She gave it, happily.

As we walked away from her Sunday school room I found myself praying, "Father, may she always be a joyful giver, and may I become one as well."

No, it is no wonder that Jesus said, "“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Matthew 19:14)