I have been thinking a lot about all of the resources that are available to help teach children about stewardship.  There are great resources out there.  10-10-80, Share, Save, Spend are a couple of them.

They are built on sound principles.  They help kids to be wise with their money.  Isn't that what we all want for our children?  It certainly is.

But I can't help thinking about the foolishness of God being wiser than human wisdom.

And God's wisdom about money is much more radical than anything that we even want our kids to hear.

When I gave my new coat to my friend as a child my mother was horrified.  But I learned it in Sunday School.  She wanted me to learn to be sensible about money and possessions, but not so I would be more generous.

And I guess I also worry about sharing the 10 percent and then feeling self satisfied like the Pharisees.

Jesus didn't tell us to share 10 percent.  He said, "Sell all your possessions and give alms."

Jesus said, "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink,  or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?"

Some of our children will take the generous and practical message of the stewardship plans  above and learn to be good stewards.  They will become strong leaders in our churches.  Perhaps they will head our stewardship drives and teach others to be generous.

But so many of our children are looking for something larger than themselves to believe in.  They are looking for something to inspire them and to which they can devote their lives.  I think of some of the young pastors and seminarians I know.  They heard a call to give all of their lives.  I think of Mother Theresa who never ran a stewardship campaign.

I am not suggesting we get rid of these wonderful resources.  I am suggesting that when we use them we lean heavily on the theology behind it all.  That we make sure that when we hand out little cans to put our sharing and saving and spending in we also hand out the radical message of Jesus.  The Holy Spirit does indeed work through the word of God and our children will hear what they need to hear in all of it.

Lord,
You have given us so much.  And you have given us precious children to raise in the radicalness of your grace.  Give us the courage to teach our children what you would have them know.  Amen