Scripture: for teacher background: Exodus 3 – 5, Romans 8; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Matthew 6:19-34; Luke 12:16-21; 1 John 1:15-17; Colossians 3:1-10
Making
contact:
Bring two “outfits” to class. One
which makes you look like a businessman i.e. a jacket and brief case or tie,
and another, which makes you, look like a cleaner or cook i.e. a dustcoat or
apron.
Ask the kids to look at the two kinds of people you will pretend to be
so that they can decide which one is the better person.
Tell them that the cleaner loves
Jesus and goes to church, teachers her children to be obedient and respectful.
The businesswoman is always at work and hardly sees her children.
She scoffs at
the silly Christians, cheats on her tax form and is having an affair with her
boss so that she can be promoted.
Things are not always what they seem.
Just because someone is smart doesn’t mean they are living a wise life. Just
because someone is a bit poorer doesn’t mean they are pathetic.
They may be so
amazing and have such a beautiful character, growing the Kingdom of God and
making a big difference in this world.
Exploration:
Modern society teaches us that we must go
to school and do well so that we can get into varsity and do well so that we
can get well paying jobs, get rich and spoil ourselves.
The business world (the
corporate world) teaches us that the faster and higher we climb up the
corporate ladder the better because it means that we can live in bigger houses
and drive flashy cars.
Some people are willing to do anything to
follow what society and the business world encourage, as a result they will use
tricks, bribery and manipulate people and situations to get ahead – in school
they will cheat in tests, at varsity, they will copy to pass assignments and at
work they will trample down colleagues to get promotions.
The world says-get rich
at all costs because to be rich is the answer to everything.
But how happy and
how successful will these people be in their hearts in the end?
Let’s look at 2 leaders in the Bible. Pharaoh
was a leader who was powerful.
He had the Israelites as slaves and was using
them to build huge things in Egypt.
He abused them. They were whipped and
beaten. He got richer and they became poorer and more and more miserable.
The
other leader is Moses. He didn’t really want to be a leader.
He used to be a
rich prince, but after he killed an Egyptian slave driver he ran away and lived
in a desert, just looking after sheep.
When Moses was sent to tell Pharaoh to
release the people of Israel from slavery he was frightened by such a big task
and pleaded with God saying, “Who am I that I should go unto Pharaoh and
bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?” Exodus 3:11
It was very difficult, but he depended on God
and managed to get them out of slavery, across the sea, lead them through the
desert, find them water and food and teach them how to worship God.
Were both these leaders famous? – Yes. One is
a bad way and one in a good way.
The one was rich and abusive; the other was
humble, poor and very wise – God’s friend.
Pharaoh hated God and he lost so
much – his son, his army, his peace.
Moses loved and obeyed God and worked
hard, leading the people with the help God gave him.
These 2 powerful leaders show us the good
way and the bad way to use power and leadership and how much better it is to
let God be the leader and get all the glory and to provide all the help.
What does it help to be rich and famous
and have such a bad character?
In the end we take nothing with us except our
character and our spirit. Some people put no effort into building their spirits
on this earth to prepare for heaven and they just want to be rich.
Jesus summed this all up in a parable:
"Jesus told them this parable: “There was once a rich man who had land which bore good crops.
He began to think to himself, ‘I don't have a place to keep all my crops. What can I do? This is what I will do,’ he told himself; ‘I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, where I will store the grain and all my other goods.
Then I will say to myself, 'Lucky man! You have all the good things you need for many years. Take life easy, eat, drink, and enjoy yourself!’
But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night you will have to give up your life; then who will get all these things you have kept for yourself?’”
And Jesus concluded, “This is how it is with those who pile up riches for themselves but are not rich in God's sight.” Luke 12:16-21
Application
Even though it’s good to be ambitious and motivated to succeed, we
should only seek success that gives Jesus glory.
Remember that all your
blessings come from God and should therefore be used to give Him glory.
If you
should become rich, don’t forget about orphans, poor people and the work of God
through the Church. Don’t let your riches turn you away from God.
If you use tricks and cheating and become a boss that God doesn’t
support, you will eventually fail and loose all you have.
If on the other hand
you obey all Gods laws and walk in love God will make a leader out of you and
use you to make this world a better place.
You really want to do something worthwhile with your life and if you
run after money and fame you will find that it is an empty ending, whereas if
you do what God wants you will have such a fulfilling and amazing life.
Remember it is more blessed to give than receive, so spend your life in giving
to the world. WORTHWHILE LIVING is GIVING GOD WORTH.
Put the world behind you and follow Jesus to greater heights which will be to HIS glory! Put the cross before you and let Jesus be your example. Help His Kingdom to come on earth and not yours!.
Be part of the solution and not part of the
problem.
Challenge to Mission
It is our
responsibility to pray for all those in leadership that they may lead well.
If
you are ever a leader – on a committee or organizing something, or a big leader
one day in the church or at work, remember that you have been given this
privilege, and must not abuse it but show that you are responsible.
If you
depend on God to help you and pray for His help, you will be a good leader.
Consolidation
Worksheet showing pictures of things we want in life. Next to each one
is a block. The children must put a little tick if that would be nice but not
so important but a big tick if that thing is very important to them.
Memory
Verse
“Set your minds on things above, not
on earthly things.”
Colossians 3:2
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