What's your treasure?
Children's Activity
Object:
There are lots of different kinds of treasures. Images of pirate chests pop up when we talk about treasure. We usually think of jewels, gold, and rare art. Anything can be a treasure, though. A treasure's value is really determined by how much people love it. My house isn't full of jewels, gold, and rare art, but I still have a lot of treasure. There are the photos of my family memories, the linens my grandmother made, and my son's crayon drawing of our family.
Oh, and the people are treasures too. My family means more to me than probably anything else in the world. There's nothing I value more. What's that you say? What about Jesus? Oh, well, I didn't mean him. I just meant that my family is more special than anything else I have. Of course Jesus means more to me than my family. Wait a minute. Do I really mean that? What if he asks me to give them up? Would he make me be alone? And what about my house, my job, my car? If I tell God that those things don't matter, would he ask me to get rid of them or (oh no!) donate them to someone else? Now I feel all squirmy inside. This is harder than I thought. Let's stop talking about me. What about you? What are your treasures?
Ask your children what their treasures are. To most children, a toy or a blanket can be the biggest treasure they know. It's hard to suggest that a child should love something more than a favorite toy. So instead of trying to convince your children not to love their treasures, illustrate today's lesson by talking about how the things of the world won't last forever. Our toys break and the things we love will eventually fall apart. (Even people!)
Take some sugar cubes and pretend they are treasures. Name each one. Now toss them in a bowl of water. What happens? They disappear. Eventually they dissolve and the treasures are all gone. Only the things of God will last forever. It's okay to love the things we have, but it's important to place the highest value on the things that are eternal.
Oh, and the people are treasures too. My family means more to me than probably anything else in the world. There's nothing I value more. What's that you say? What about Jesus? Oh, well, I didn't mean him. I just meant that my family is more special than anything else I have. Of course Jesus means more to me than my family. Wait a minute. Do I really mean that? What if he asks me to give them up? Would he make me be alone? And what about my house, my job, my car? If I tell God that those things don't matter, would he ask me to get rid of them or (oh no!) donate them to someone else? Now I feel all squirmy inside. This is harder than I thought. Let's stop talking about me. What about you? What are your treasures?
Ask your children what their treasures are. To most children, a toy or a blanket can be the biggest treasure they know. It's hard to suggest that a child should love something more than a favorite toy. So instead of trying to convince your children not to love their treasures, illustrate today's lesson by talking about how the things of the world won't last forever. Our toys break and the things we love will eventually fall apart. (Even people!)
Take some sugar cubes and pretend they are treasures. Name each one. Now toss them in a bowl of water. What happens? They disappear. Eventually they dissolve and the treasures are all gone. Only the things of God will last forever. It's okay to love the things we have, but it's important to place the highest value on the things that are eternal.
