If your class is meeting online, invite students to bring index cards and pens/pencils to class.

Wealth doesn’t create character—it reveals character. In other words, having money shows what kind of person you really are. Do you use some of your cash to serve God and people, or do you spend it all on yourself? Unlike most lottery winners, Abraham chose to share his wealth.

You might be thinking, “I’m a teenager, so I’m broke. When I actually have money, I’ll donate some of it.” But remember—what you do with a little money reveals what you’ll do with a lot.

You’re already richer than many of the people in the world. There are more than a billion people on earth who live on less than $1.25 per day. The lunch you’re going to eat after church will probably cost more than that.

The point is not to make you feel guilty, but it’s to emphasize this: We have already been blessed by God with lots of good things! So, don’t wait until you have even more to help others. Make a commitment to give away some of your wealth now.

• How much of his newfound wealth did Abraham donate in today’s Bible story? (He gave 10%, which some people call a “tithe.” That’s the same as giving away $1 for every $10 you receive.)

Challenge your students to make a hard commitment today. Suggest that whatever money they make this week—whether it’s their allowance, or money made doing chores or odd jobs for neighbors—they donate 10% of the amount, whatever it is.

Maybe you get an allowance. Maybe you earn money for good grades. Maybe Grandpa slips you 50 bucks on your birthday. Wherever the money comes from, give $1 out of every $10 to help people.

That’s a hard thing to do, whether you have ten dollars or a thousand dollars. Giving doesn’t get easier just because you have more cash! But if you develop a habit of serving God with your money now, you’re more likely to keep doing it as you get older and have more to give.

 Hand each student an index card and a pen or pencil. If your class is meeting online, invite students to have those items ready. As we close our lesson, write a note to God. Hopefully, you’ll write something like, “God, I commit to giving 10% to help others the next time I get money.” Then, follow through! Put money in the offering or donate to an organization in our community that does good work. 

But of course, no one can decide for you what you’ll do with your cash. And no one is going to look at what you write on your card. Instead of committing to give a tithe, you can write, “God, I can’t do it right now, but help me be a better giver.” Or even “Forget it, God—the money’s mine, all mine!” It’s up to you what you write.

Hopefully you’ll accept the challenge to give away a little of your wealth. Whether you’re Bill Gates or a middle schooler, everything you have comes from God. Consider making a commitment to help others with a little of what God’s given to you.

Give your students a few minutes to write down their commitments to God on their index cards. Remember, what they write down is between them and God—don’t ask to see the cards! When your students are done writing, close in prayer.