RAISING KIDS WHO CONTRIBUTE
As a parent, one of the most vitally important qualities to develop in our children is teaching them to contribute their time, energy, and effort to help others. We live in an age when so few kids are expected to contribute to the family and around the home. Today, kids grow up with an expectation to be served. They’re not taught to give of themselves. Many are not taught, nor expected, to willingly pitch in and help out around the home.
My wife and I knew as parents, it was essential for our children’s character development, spiritual development, and psychological well-being, that they learn to contribute to the family. There is tremendous emotional and mental well-being developed by giving to help others. Turning our children into little people who are eager to help out is essential for their growth as a person, and their usefulness to God.
We live in a nation of takers—a nation of people who want primarily to be entertained, having others give to them. Young people live to travel the world just for the fun of it, then post their selfie photos of the exotic locations on Facebook to show off to all their friends. This is not my exaggeration or opinion, but a literal fact that travel companies determined through their own recent research. It’s mind boggling! It still shocks me how utterly self-absorbed and self-centered young people are these days, and how much time and money they waste on their own self-fulfillment.
If we are to raise spiritual champions, spiritually devoted disciples of Jesus Christ, then we must teach and train our children from an early age to be contributors who love to give of themselves, teaching them the joy of helping others. In fact, besides knowing and walking with God, there is no greater joy in life than helping other people, nor anything quite as rewarding. This is why Jesus told us, “When we lose our life we find it. When we lay down our lives for others, we find and experience true life.”
We intentionally developed this at a very early age with our children. They helped fold clothes. They helped carry in and put away groceries. They helped mow the lawn. They shoveled tons of snow. They helped out around the house. The older kids helped the younger kids with school work, or babysitting, or reading to a younger child. They helped rake our huge yard. They helped around the kitchen or the dinner table. For years, my wife taught a mid-week class for 3–4 year-olds at church. She would bring our children with her and have them help her set up the class every week, soften the playdough before children arrived, and set up all the chairs and little games. She led by example, and took her little disciples with her to help out. My kids, as young teens, taught Sunday school classes. First as helpers to the teachers, then as teachers themselves. They helped in childcare. They served in their church youth groups, leading small groups, and playing and singing in the youth worship band.
My kids literally helped me start The Rock church. They served tirelessly there, serving others in countless ways for 20 years. For years they served sacrificially, leading our worship team, playing their instruments and singing. My son, on his own initiative, visited a veterans hospital, helping veterans and playing concerts for the men. He visited orphanages and children’s homes, and played and sang at memory care homes for Alzheimer’s patients. He visited prisons, performing concerts and ministering to the inmates. I have a daughter who started a homeschool co-op, working tirelessly to help other moms and to help their kids learn. Some led small groups for young people at church. Others helped teach karate classes at their karate school, in order to help the younger students. They helped lead mission outreach trips.
I share all of these simply to illustrate examples and ways of being a contributor. Helping others is a way of life. It is literally the most fulfilling life you could possibly live. Jesus himself told us: “I did not come to be served but to serve, and to give my life…” The Bible tells us Jesus went everywhere doing good!
These are the kind of children we want to raise—children who are contributors and givers, helping others wherever God may have them. This glorifies God. This is what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.
Colossians 1:10 NLT
Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and you will “continually do good, kind things for others.” All the while, you will learn to know God better and better.
This is the “hallmark” of authentic Christianity—the way of life of a disciple of Jesus Christ!
I encourage you to sit together and have your whole family hear this message:
https://strongdisciple.com/
Helping you become a Strong Disciple,
Because of Jesus,
Pastor Mark Darling
