Having Or Doing?
Children's sermon
Ping-Pong Words
And 30 More Children's Sermons
Object:
Scripture Reference
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
-- Matthew 6:19-21
Materials Needed
Card stock printed with scripture reference and verses, with the words, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" underlined
Telling The Story
Have you ever asked someone who is the age of your grandparents or great-grandparents what life was like when he or she was a child? If you have, then maybe you noticed that the person talked more about the things he did or the people he spent time with than about the things that he had. Many people remember what they do better than what they have (or had), and they enjoy those memories better. Why do you think that might be? (Let children offer guesses.)
Those are great ideas. I think it's because what you do often involves other people. When you do something, you often share that time with other people. When you have something, you might share it with other people, but that sharing means you're doing something, doesn't it? If you just have something, you might do something with it or you might just sit and look at it alone. Things just don't stay in our memories or create pleasant memories as well as actions and relationships do.
The Bible tells us about this in Matthew 6:19-21. (Show the card stock with the printed scripture reference and verses and read the verses.) It says, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Jesus tells us that things wear out. They can be broken or stolen. But our relationship with God -- our biggest treasure in heaven -- is forever. It will never wear out, never break, and never be stolen. And when we do things for God, he remembers. God's memory is forever, too.
What happens if you have a lot of toys? You have a messy room. You have many things that need to be dusted and taken care of. You worry that they'll get broken, and sometimes they're even in the way. Things can be fun to have, but they bring their own problems with them.
What happens if you spend time doing things with and for other people? You teach them, and you learn from them. You exercise your brain and feel the satisfaction of helping. And as you get to know people, you make friends that you can turn to when you have a problem, too.
Remember what Matthew 6:21 says. It's underlined on this card. (Hold up the card stock again.) "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." That means, if you are more concerned with getting things, someday your heart will be at the dump, because that's where the broken things end up. When you're alone, you won't have great memories to help you, and maybe someday, you won't even have much to remember.
If you are more concerned with doing things with other people, you exercise your brain, make your memory stronger, and you look forward to seeing those people in heaven, which is forever.
Prayer
Dear Lord,
Thank you for this beautiful day, and thank you for helping us realize that our hearts will focus on whatever we treasure. Please help us to remember that our real treasures are waiting for us in heaven, not at the store or at home in our rooms. Thank you for loving us so much.
In Jesus' name. Amen.
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
-- Matthew 6:19-21
Materials Needed
Card stock printed with scripture reference and verses, with the words, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" underlined
Telling The Story
Have you ever asked someone who is the age of your grandparents or great-grandparents what life was like when he or she was a child? If you have, then maybe you noticed that the person talked more about the things he did or the people he spent time with than about the things that he had. Many people remember what they do better than what they have (or had), and they enjoy those memories better. Why do you think that might be? (Let children offer guesses.)
Those are great ideas. I think it's because what you do often involves other people. When you do something, you often share that time with other people. When you have something, you might share it with other people, but that sharing means you're doing something, doesn't it? If you just have something, you might do something with it or you might just sit and look at it alone. Things just don't stay in our memories or create pleasant memories as well as actions and relationships do.
The Bible tells us about this in Matthew 6:19-21. (Show the card stock with the printed scripture reference and verses and read the verses.) It says, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Jesus tells us that things wear out. They can be broken or stolen. But our relationship with God -- our biggest treasure in heaven -- is forever. It will never wear out, never break, and never be stolen. And when we do things for God, he remembers. God's memory is forever, too.
What happens if you have a lot of toys? You have a messy room. You have many things that need to be dusted and taken care of. You worry that they'll get broken, and sometimes they're even in the way. Things can be fun to have, but they bring their own problems with them.
What happens if you spend time doing things with and for other people? You teach them, and you learn from them. You exercise your brain and feel the satisfaction of helping. And as you get to know people, you make friends that you can turn to when you have a problem, too.
Remember what Matthew 6:21 says. It's underlined on this card. (Hold up the card stock again.) "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." That means, if you are more concerned with getting things, someday your heart will be at the dump, because that's where the broken things end up. When you're alone, you won't have great memories to help you, and maybe someday, you won't even have much to remember.
If you are more concerned with doing things with other people, you exercise your brain, make your memory stronger, and you look forward to seeing those people in heaven, which is forever.
Prayer
Dear Lord,
Thank you for this beautiful day, and thank you for helping us realize that our hearts will focus on whatever we treasure. Please help us to remember that our real treasures are waiting for us in heaven, not at the store or at home in our rooms. Thank you for loving us so much.
In Jesus' name. Amen.
