For a little over a year
we've been using this chore system, which has been an invaluable tool for
teaching our kids responsibility and biblical stewardship. When each child receives his or her money on
payday, it's immediately distributed into one of three categories: spending
(70%), saving (20%) and tithing (10%).
And while I love that this idea reinforces the concept of faithfully
tithing without question, I acknowledge that, unless intentionally addressed, it also subtly implies that our
charitable responsibility ends with the 10% given to the church.
I find this concept
entirely unbiblical. While I don't deny
the biblical basis for tithing to the church, there are so many biblical
passages, so many passages, that encourage us to love others by giving
sacrificially. We're commanded to love
others as we love ourselves, which has undeniably strong implications when it
comes to the giving of our resources. And
when we limit our sacrificial giving to our tithe, we not only fail to love
others as Christ commanded, but we also rob ourselves of the joy that comes
from giving.
We've tried to make up
for this by emphasizing the ways in which John and I personally give in areas
outside of our tithe, such as sponsoring children through Compassion
International, giving monthly to ministries like Mercy House, supporting
friends on the mission field, or participating in seasonal ministries like
Operation Christmas Child. We read
Compassion International's Explorer Magazine, and we talk with them often about
the needs we see around us and how God has given us the ability to meet some of
those needs. And yet it feels as though
entitlement is still encamped just outside our home, waiting for the chance to
pounce.
So this past payday we
started something new. While their chore
money will still be apportioned as outlined above, they will now be encouraged
to give whatever they desire from their personal spending money towards a fund
designated to help someone in need. Our
hope is that as they personally experience sacrifice, they see the blessing of
giving to others, cultivating a lasting desire to give.
We're starting by buying a goat ($70) through Samaritan's Purse for a poverty
stricken family in a third-world country. So far it's been a fun goal, and after the
first week, we now have $9.22 in our Goat Fund.
I'm anxious to see how long it takes us to reach our goal, and I'm
curious to know what they pick for our next project!
