Visiting a young pastor and his family some time ago I observed a touching example of true Christian stewardship.
It was nearly time to go to church, when the pastorβs wife reached for a small box containing a few coins and handed it to her little boy. The coins represented the boyβs earnings received for jobs done, good behaviour, etc.
Seriously the boy contemplated the contents of the box and took from it two dimes β a substantial portion of the whole. Then looking up at me he said earnestly:Β βThis is for Jesusβ.
Several Scriptural lessons about Christian giving came to mind as we observed this simple incident.
This little lad had already been taught the responsibility of participatingΒ systematically in supporting the work of the Lord (I Cor. 16:2). He gave βas he purposed in his heartβ; no one suggested how much he ought to give (II Cor. 9:7). After thinking it over carefully, he gave sacrificially (II Cor. 8:7,9). He βproved the sincerity of his loveβ (II Cor. 8:8), for it was with sincere, childlike affection that he said: βThis is for Jesusβ.
Most of all, perhaps, his gift was a living demonstration of Paulβs exhortation in Romans 12:8: βHe that giveth, let him do it with simplicityβ. There was no fanfare, no boasting, no evidence of any feeling that he was doing a lot for the Lord; just an attitude of simple, humble satisfaction that he could join others in supporting the work of Christ.
How much we, who have too often been hardened through the years, can learn from children! source
