A great reward
Children's sermon
Object:
none
Sometimes it's hard to do the right thing, isn't it? Other times it's not so hard at all. Tell me about some times when doing the right thing is hard. (spend a few moments with this) Now what about the times when it's easy? (listen for responses) Is there anything that makes you want to do the right thing? I know it's a lot easier for me to do the right thing if I'll get a reward or a prize for doing it.
Today's lesson is about doing the right thing. Jesus is teaching a group of people how they should act, how they should treat others, and how they should live. At the very end, Jesus says to "rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven." At first that sounds great, but wait a minute. Does that mean that if I do the right thing I'm not going to be rewarded for it until I get to heaven? Yuk! What about right now? I don't want to wait. If I do the right thing I want to be rewarded for it now.
When I think about it a little more, I'm not so sure that that's what Jesus was trying to say. I think he really wants us to be more concerned with doing the right thing than with the reward. A reward will come in heaven; that's a promise. It's not the most important thing, though. We should do the right thing because it's the right thing. It's as simple as that. Listen to the whole lesson again. (read verses 1-12 again) We should be people with pure hearts. We should be merciful.
All the things that Jesus teaches are good for us. Living his way is good for the people around us too. Sure, a reward in heaven would be great, but Jesus offers us full and happy lives right now. We will be more joyful if we live like Jesus wants us to live. We will be more peaceful. As far as I'm concerned, being peaceful and joyful is a good enough reward for me.
Prayer: God, help us to do the right things in our lives. Amen.
Today's lesson is about doing the right thing. Jesus is teaching a group of people how they should act, how they should treat others, and how they should live. At the very end, Jesus says to "rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven." At first that sounds great, but wait a minute. Does that mean that if I do the right thing I'm not going to be rewarded for it until I get to heaven? Yuk! What about right now? I don't want to wait. If I do the right thing I want to be rewarded for it now.
When I think about it a little more, I'm not so sure that that's what Jesus was trying to say. I think he really wants us to be more concerned with doing the right thing than with the reward. A reward will come in heaven; that's a promise. It's not the most important thing, though. We should do the right thing because it's the right thing. It's as simple as that. Listen to the whole lesson again. (read verses 1-12 again) We should be people with pure hearts. We should be merciful.
All the things that Jesus teaches are good for us. Living his way is good for the people around us too. Sure, a reward in heaven would be great, but Jesus offers us full and happy lives right now. We will be more joyful if we live like Jesus wants us to live. We will be more peaceful. As far as I'm concerned, being peaceful and joyful is a good enough reward for me.
Prayer: God, help us to do the right things in our lives. Amen.
