In a world where little eyes are always watching, how we walk and talk matters more than we realize. Our children, and even those who aren’t our biological children, observe our every move, learning how to respond to life’s challenges by watching us.

How Do Children Learn to Follow God’s Path?

One of the most common questions parents ask is, “How do we make our kids follow the Lord and do what is right?” The simple truth is that we can’t make them. Children are individuals with their own free will and desires. We cannot force them to follow any path, but we can guide them through our own example.

Throughout the Bible, we see this pattern repeated: “He walked in all the ways of his father had walked.” Whether serving idols or following God’s commands, children often follow the path their parents model.

Four Ways to Guide Children Toward Faith

1. Let Them Witness Your Struggle

One of the best ways to lead wisely is to let children see your struggles. Jesus himself told us, “In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Struggles are inevitable, so allowing children to witness how we handle difficulties teaches them valuable lessons.

However, this doesn’t mean burdening children with adult problems. As Corrie ten Boom’s father wisely demonstrated to her, parents carry weights so their children don’t have to. Some knowledge is too heavy for children, but they should understand that burdens exist and see how we handle them.

Jesus modeled this perfectly in the Garden of Gethsemane. He brought his disciples with him to witness his anguish, letting them hear his prayers: “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” He showed them how to struggle well while maintaining faith.

When we allow our children to see our struggles in age-appropriate ways, we empower them to handle their own difficulties later in life. Our job isn’t to shield them from struggles but to prepare them to bear them.

2. Don’t Give Influence to Those Who Don’t Deserve It

As parents, we have the primary responsibility for raising and training our children. When we give that influence to others who don’t deserve it, we sacrifice our role in shaping their character.

During childhood development, kids go through stages of identity formation. From ages 6-12, they’re asking, “Am I capable and competent?” In their teen years, they’re figuring out who they are in different contexts. Throughout these stages, they look to parents and peers for answers.

Deuteronomy 6 reminds us of our responsibility: “These words that I’m giving you today are to be in your heart. Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house, and when you walk along the road, and when you lie down, and when you get up.”

We must teach our children how to allow the right influences into their lives so that when they face difficulties, they can discern what guidance to accept and what to reject.

3. Fathers Play a Vital Role in Children’s Faith

Contrary to what many believe, fathers have the most significant impact on whether children will attend church regularly and embrace faith. The statistics are striking:

• If only the mother attends church regularly, there’s just a 1.5% chance the child will attend church.
• If the father attends regularly (even if the mother doesn’t), there’s a 44% chance the child will go to church regularly.

This doesn’t mean God can’t work in other situations—He certainly can and does. But when fathers demonstrate that faith matters by showing up at church, serving in ministries, and participating in small groups, children notice and follow their example.

The good news is that it’s never too late to start. If you’re just beginning your faith journey, your children will notice the change, and it can make all the difference in their lives.

4. Pray Constantly

Prayer should be our first and most frequent response to parenting challenges. We need to pray for:

• Ourselves to be the parents
• God has called us to be
• Our children’s protection and growth
• Their friends and influences
• Their future spouses
• Their schools and environments

Jesus prayed for his disciples, saying, “I am not praying that you take them out of the world, but that you protect them from the evil one.” Our children are in a spiritual battle, just as we are. Ephesians 6:12 reminds us that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil spiritual forces in the heavens.”

Let your children see you pray. Let them know you pray for them. This models the importance of spiritual disciplines and shows them how to seek God in all circumstances.

Life Application

Our children and those around us are watching how we live. They notice our responses to stress, our priorities, and our faith practices. The question is: What are we modeling for them?

This week, consider these questions:

1. What struggles am I facing that I could share (appropriately) with my children to help them learn how to handle difficulties with faith?
2. What influences am I allowing into my children’s lives? Are these influences worthy of shaping their character?
3. As a father, how am I demonstrating the importance of faith to my children? If I’m not a father, how am I supporting the fathers around me?
4. What am I consistently praying for regarding my children or the children in my life?

Remember, it’s never too late to start modeling faith. Even if you feel you’ve made mistakes in the past, you can begin today to demonstrate what it means to follow Jesus. Whether you have children of your own or not, someone is watching your example. Make it one worth following.

Generosity is often misunderstood as being solely about financial giving. While financial giving is certainly part of generosity, it’s only one aspect of a much broader concept. Like romantic love is part of marriage, or paint is part of a car, financial giving is a necessary component of generosity—but it’s not the whole picture.

What happens when we make generosity all about money?

When we reduce generosity to just financial matters, we typically fall into one of two errors:

The error of transactional Christianity

Transactional Christianity occurs when we approach our relationship with God as a “give and take” arrangement. We assume that if we give financially, God is obligated to bless us in return—whether through financial prosperity, health, safety, or happiness.

This mindset is fundamentally flawed. God is not bound by our human transactions. As the Lord, He doesn’t enter into equal-standing agreements with us where both parties are obligated to comply. We have covenants with God, but the terms are His, not ours.

In Acts 8, Simon the sorcerer tried to buy the power of the Holy Spirit, and Peter strongly rebuked him: “May your silver be destroyed with you because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money.”

The error of overvaluing wealth

The second error is that we begin to see money or wealth as the most important thing. This can lead us to:

• View material possessions as the primary blessing from God
• Consider wealthy people as more blessed or more righteous
• See poverty as punishment from God
• Associate a person’s value with their financial worth

Jesus challenged this thinking when He observed the widow’s offering at the temple. Though she gave only two small coins, Jesus said she had given more than all the wealthy donors because she gave everything she had.

What is true generosity?

Generosity is the opposite of our natural inclination to be self-focused. It’s when we have the heart of the Father in us and desire to do as He does.

John 3:16 reminds us: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son…” God gave what was most precious to Him—His Son. Jesus gave His perfect, precious blood. The cost of our salvation was higher than money could ever buy.

Generosity, then, is about having a heart that is inclined toward others and moved to action. It’s adopting the same attitude as Christ, who “emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant.”

What are we called to be generous with?

We are called to be generous with anything that has value. If something doesn’t have value to you, you can’t truly be generous with it because there’s no sacrifice involved.

1. Time

Time is perhaps our most valuable resource because:

• We only have so much of it
• We cannot make more of it
• We don’t know how much we have left
• It’s finite and irreplaceable

When we give our time to something or someone, especially when they cannot repay it, we’re being truly generous. This might include:

• Serving in church ministries
• Volunteering in community organizations
• Civic service that benefits the whole community

2. Blessing and affirmation

Romans 13:7 reminds us to “pay your obligations to everyone… respect to those you owe respect and honor to those you owe honor.”

We should be free with our blessings and affirmation:

• Tell people they’re doing good
• Express how proud you are of them
• Let them know you love them
• Encourage the good you see in others
• Pray for people and let them know you’re doing so

People should never have to guess whether you love and care for them. Verbally blessing others is a powerful way to be generous.

3. Resources

Proverbs 3:27-28 says: “When it is within your power, don’t withhold good from the one to whom it belongs. Don’t say to your neighbor, ‘Go away. Come back later. I’ll give it tomorrow’ when it’s there with you.”

John the Baptist taught: “The one who has two shirts must share with the one who has none, and the one who has food must do the same.”

This doesn’t mean giving everything away, but there is a strong biblical precedent for blessing others with the things we have when we see a need we can fill.

4. Money

Christians are statistically the most generous givers in America, with 70-75% of all charitable donations coming from individuals who identify as Christians.

Being generous with money can take many forms:

• Supporting community projects
• Giving regularly to your church
• Supporting specific ministries or causes you’re passionate about

Regular giving to your church helps support:

• Basic operational needs (facilities, utilities, etc.)
• Ministry staff who serve the congregation
• Programs that benefit the community
• Special projects and missions

Why give regularly to your church?

While the Old Testament principle of tithing (giving 10%) is a good guideline, the New Testament emphasizes that “each person should do as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or out of compulsion, since God loves a cheerful giver.”

The percentage matters less than the heart behind it. When we give financially on a regular basis, we’re saying, “I’m committed to this thing.” It’s evidence of our attachment and support.

Many churches offer designated giving options beyond the general fund, allowing you to support specific ministries or projects you’re passionate about.

Life Application

Generosity is a response to God’s grace, mercy, and love. We are generous with what has value to us because God has been generous with what has value to Him—His Son.

Ask yourself these questions this week:

1. What has the most value in my life right now? Is it my time, my possessions, my money, or something else?
2. Have I made Jesus Lord over that valuable thing, or am I still holding it back from Him?
3. In what specific way can I be more generous this week?
4. Is there someone I need to bless with my words?
5. Is there a need I can meet with my resources?
6. Is there a ministry I should support financially?

Am I giving regularly to my church? If not, what’s holding me back?

Remember, generosity is about a heart posture toward the Lord. It’s saying, “Even in this, you are the Lord.” When you identify what has value in your life, ask yourself if Jesus is truly Lord of that thing.

This week, take one practical step toward greater generosity in an area where you’ve been holding back. As you do, you’ll discover the truth of Jesus’ words that it is more blessed to give than to receive.