This coming Sabbath at the Living Faith Seventh-day Adventist Church, the South Bahamas Conference Stewardship and Children’s Ministries (CHAMS) departments, will partner in promoting children’s envelopes. The focus is to encourage our little ones early to see the importance of returning and giving back to the Lord. Yet one may ask, “Why is this so important?”

When we hear the word “stewardship,” our minds often drift straight to the church budget or the annual tithing sermon. However, for a Christian, stewardship is far larger than finance. It is a complete lifestyle rooted in a profound truth: everything we have belongs to God, and we are simply His caretakers.

 Psalm 24:1 reminds us, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.” Teaching this concept to children shapes how they view their time, abilities, money and the world around them. In the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) tradition, stewardship is so foundational that it stands as SDA Fundamental Belief #21. It is a spiritual privilege that safeguards the heart against selfishness and helps develop a Christlike character.

By instilling these four expanded pillars of biblical stewardship early, we help children transition from consumers to faithful, expectant caretakers.

1. Time & The Sabbath: Teaching the Value of “Chronos”

Children live in the moment, which makes time an abstract concept. To teach time stewardship, we must make it visible. For Seventh-day Adventists, this concept is deeply enriched by the sacred rhythm of the Seventh-day Sabbath.

• The Blueprint: Introduce visual daily schedules that intentionally balance work (chores), play, and worship. Teach children that time is an unrepeatable resource given by the Creator.

• The Action: Use Friday evening preparation as a family to teach “Sabbath stewardship.” Involve children in tidying the home and preparing meals ahead of time so the Sabbath hours can be fully dedicated to God, nature, and family.

2. Talents & The Body Temple: Cultivating “Charisma”

Every child is uniquely gifted by God, whether with a beautiful singing voice, a knack for organization, or a deeply empathetic heart. Stewardship means using these gifts to build God’s kingdom rather than seeking self-glorification.

• The Blueprint: Actively call out and name the spiritual gifts and talents you see in your children. Teach them that health and physical energy are also part of their stewardship—caring for their “body temple” allows them to serve God effectively.

• The Action: Find practical ways for them to deploy those gifts. A creative child can make encouragement cards for church shut-ins; a nurturing child can help care for younger children in the lower divisions of Sabbath School.

3. Treasures: Rethinking “Ktēma” through Tithes and Offerings 

Money management is a critical life skill, but Christian financial stewardship adds a layer of spiritual discipline. We return what is His because He first gave to us.

• The Blueprint: Implement a Three-Jar System—labeling three clear containers as Tithe/Offerings, Save, and Spend.

• The Action: When children receive an allowance or monetary gift, teach them to separate the “first fruits” immediately. Walk them through the blessing of returning a faithful 10% Tithe to the SDA Storehouse alongside a systematic free-will offering. This builds a lifelong habit of trusting God’s promises in Malachi 3:10.

4. Creation: Honoring “Ktisis” as Earth’s Keepers

The cultural conversation around environmentalism often leaves faith out of the equation. However, Seventh-day Adventists recognize that the call to care for the Earth is directly tied to honoring God as the Creator.

• The Blueprint: Frame eco-friendly habits—like recycling, conserving water, and reducing waste—not just as good civic duties, but as acts of worship and respect toward the Master Designer.

• The Action: Plant a family garden, go on Sabbath afternoon nature walks, or volunteer at a local park clean-up to give children a tangible connection to the soil they are called to protect

The Stewardship Timeline: Age-Appropriate Milestones

• Preschoolers (Ages 2–5): Focus on ownership. Teach them that their toys are temporary loans from Jesus, and sharing those toys is a way to share God’s love.

• Elementary (Ages 6–10): Focus on choices. Introduce the jar system and let them personally hand their Tithe envelopes to the deacon or church treasurer to make the experience active and real.

• Tweens & Teens (Ages 11+): Focus on character development. Encourage them to volunteer independently for community projects and manage their own clothing or entertainment budgets, learning the spiritual value of economy, efficiency and sacrifice.

A Legacy of Faithfulness

Stewardship is caught more than it is taught. When children see their parents returning Tithe cheerfully, guarding the edges of the Sabbath, and managing resources with gratitude, they learn to do the same. By teaching them to hold the world’s gifts with an open hand, we prepare them for a life of purpose and the joy of hearing those ultimate words from our Master: “Well done, good and faithful servant.”


Pastor Valentino Campbell is the Stewardship Ministries Director of the South Bahamas Conference. He and his wife, Shandle Campbell, along with his two daughters, serve the Living Faith Seventh-day Adventist Church.