CHILDREN STS LESSON 8 Vol 3WARNING AGAINST COVETOUSNESS

TEXT: Luke 12:13-34

Covetousness simply means greediness, the desire to get what you do not have and do not necessarily need at all costs. Once, there lived a greedy dog. Many times, he had to pay for his greed. One afternoon, this dog decided to go and look for something to eat. Just outside his house, there was a bridge. “I will go and look for food on the other side of the bridge. The food there is definitely better“ he thought to himself.

He walked across the wooden bridge and started sniffing around for food. Suddenly, he spotted a bone lying at a distance. “Aah, I am in luck. This looks like a delicious bone,“ he said. Without wasting any time, the hungry dog picked up the bone and was just about to eat it when he thought, “Another dog might see me here with this bone and then I will have to share it with him. I had better go home and eat it.”

Holding the bone in his mouth, he ran towards his house. While crossing the wooden bridge, the dog looked down into the river, there he saw his own reflection. The foolish dog mistook it for another dog. “There is another dog in the water with a bone in its mouth,” he thought. Greedy as he was, he thought, “how nice it would be to snatch that piece of bone as well. Then, I will have two bones!“So, the greedy dog looked at his reflection and growled. The reflection growled back too. This made the dog angry. He looked down at his reflection and barked, “woof, woof!” As he opened his mouth, the bone in his mouth fell into the river. It was only when the water splashed that the greedy dog realised that what he had seen was nothing but his own reflection and not another dog. But it was too late! He had lost the piece of bone because of his greed. Now he had to go home empty-handed.

This is exactly what happens to a child who is covetous, and that is why Jesus took time to teach us on the danger of covetousness. Are you a greedy child who is never contented with whatever you have? Jesus is asking you to give Him your heart today and He will change you completely.

1.CHRIST’S WARNING AGAINST COVETOUSNESS:

Luke 12:13-21; Exodus 20:17; Ephesians 5:3-5

From our Bible passage, a man wanted his brother to share his father’s property with him; so, he asked Jesus to help him out. Jesus seized the opportunity to teach us about how bad it is for one to be covetous, Jesus gave a parable about the rich fool. He had so much food that there was no more space for him to store them. He planned on making a bigger barn so he could store as much crops as he could, all for himself. This rich man was not appreciative and satisfied with the provision God had given him and he was not willing to share his goods with others. He was thinking only of himself. God looked at his foolishness and told him that he was going to die that night. Then, who would be the owner of the de crops he had gathered?

Life is more important than the material things that we own. Unfortunately, many children are like the rich fool. They are never satisfied with what their parents can provide for them. They have no time for God and others. They go out of their ways to make sure they have what they want. They can never be satisfied because material things can never bring satisfaction. Only Jesus can give true satisfaction. Are you a covetous child, always wanting what others have and (not satisfied with yours? It shows that you are not yet born again. Receive Jesus Christ into your life and you will realise that He is sufficient for you.

2. A COVETOUS LIFE-STYLE:

Luke 12:16-21; Micah 2:1-3; 2 Peter 2:14-16

Children who are not yet born again naturally want what belongs to others.  They cry, get angry, steal and deceive their parents to collect money in order that to get what they want. They always want the latest clothes, shoes, bags and toys. They get envious and jealous over children who have more than they do. They are never satisfied with what they have. They do not care if their parents cannot afford what they want; they will he makes one to trust in oneself and not on to get it by all means. Covetousness d God for his/her needs. The end of every a covetous boy or girl is an unfulfilled and so unsatisfied life and eternal separation from God.

The Bible has examples of people were covetous and the consequences of it

1. Achan: He died shamefully with his e family because of his greed for gold and e the Babylonish garment he could not wear for a day (Joshua 7:19-26).
2. Ahab: He coveted the vineyard of Naboth. When Naboth refused to give it to him, his wife, Jezebel planned his e death (1 Kings 21:1-19). Judgment of destruction was pronounced on him and his family.
3. Gehazi: The servant of Elisha coveted the gifts of Naaman the leper, which he brought to Elisha when the prophet turned it down. As a result, the leprosy of Naaman came upon him (2 Kings 5:1-27).
4. Judas Iscariot: He was one of the disciples of Jesus, but he betrayed Christ for thirty pieces of silver. Eventually, he could not spend the money, but committed suicide (Matthew 26:14,15).
5. Demas: He forsook Paul in the ministry because of his love for the world. He became a backslider (2 Timothy 4:10).

3. CHRIST OUR SUFFICIENCY:

Luke 12:22-34; Matthew 6:33, 34: Hebrews 13:5,6

Jesus taught His disciples to depend on God for their needs. As children of God, we must understand – that God loves and cares about us. He is sufficient for all our needs and promises to supply them (Philippians 4:19). He will not withhold anything S that is good and profitable from you (Psalm 84:11). Some children ask God for things that they do not need, just to t satisfy their covetous minds. God will c not answer such prayers (James 4:3). To enjoy Christ’s provision, you must be His friend. You can become a friend of Jesus as you:

1. Accept that you are a sinner.
2. Believe that Jesus shed His blood to cleanse and save you from sins.
3. Confess your sins, repent of them and ask Jesus to come into your life as Saviour and Lord.
4. Have faith that you are now a new creature.
5. Continue to follow Jesus by praying and reading His word every day.

All you ever need is in Jesus. You must seek His kingdom and righteousness first and all other things shall be added to you.

QUESTIONS:

1. What is covetousness?
2. Why was the rich man in our text described as a fool?
3. Mention some material things that can make children covetous.
4. Mention two Bible characters each in both Old and New Testaments who were covetous and what happened to them.
5. Who can give us satisfaction? 6. What can a covetous child do to get satisfaction?

MEMORY VERSE: “And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth” (Luke 12:15).

LESSON: Jesus Christ is our Sufficiency.

THOUGHT: I will always look unto God to supply all my needs and will be contented with what I have.

ACTIVITY: Children should write in their notebooks those things that make them covetous, ask God for forgiveness and pray to God for grace to be contented.

CONGREGATIONAL SONG: GHS 244 -ALL THINGS IN JESUS

CHORUSES:

(1) Thank you, thank you, Lord…

(2) When I remember what the Lord has done…

(3) He’s a great Provider.

HOMEWORK: Children should go home, look at all they have (old or new) and thank God for the provision. They should also thank their parents for providing them.

BIBLE WORD SEARCH

Find the meanings of these words. You can use your dictionary.

1. Greedy
2. Envious
3. Accursed
4. Contentment
5. Covetousness.