Work That Matters (Sunday School Lesson for Kids)

This lesson is part of God's Story of Work for Kids, a 12-week curriculum that teaches children to see work through God's perspective.

MAIN IDEA: Work that matters requires living as a steward or manager, not as the boss.

OPENING

Leader: How many of you would like your life to be one that makes a difference in the world? Where you know that because you lived, something changed for the better. Raise your hand. Who are the people in the world today that make a difference?

(Hold up a newspaper.) All around us, we get updates on what's happening in the world. There's headlines and articles in the newspaper and online. We see important news covered through television reports or on the radio. Who do we usually see shown on TV or in the news? (Invite students to respond.)

Yes, usually the media covers the stories of world leaders, the CEOs in charge of large businesses, celebrities, people involved in exciting news or current breaking news that's affecting a lot of people. Are these the people who are making a difference?

Think about five jobs that reach a different number of people. A CEO of a company, a janitor, a retail store manager, a store salesperson, and the President of the United States. Who do you think is most important?

Who is making the most difference? Well, it depends on who is working as a steward rather than as a boss. A steward is a person who manages another person's property or money. A steward manages these things the way the owner would want them managed. Christian stewards know that everything they have - their money, their abilities, their family and friends are all things God has entrusted them to take care of and manage. Stewards look at the work they do as managing things on behalf of God.

The people in the newspaper and the hundreds of people around us every day - the ones who are making a real difference - are the ones who are being good managers of what God has given them. A celebrity might not care about stewarding relationships and might treat people very poorly. Another celebrity might value the people around her and take care of those relationships. A classmate of yours might not care about his schoolwork. Another classmate might be working hard to learn new things and to be responsible for his work.

It doesn't matter whether someone makes the headlines. What matters is whether they are looking to steward, or manage, the people, things, opportunities, and jobs that God has given them - or whether they are lookin gto use these for their own personal gain. Let's take a look at Jesus to see how he worked.

SCRIPTURE LESSON

Read aloud or ask a child to stand and read for the group.

John 13:1-5, 12-17

Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him.

After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord - and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.

Jesus, God's Son, has more power and abilities than anyone else in the world, and even more than the whole world combined. In this story, how did he use his power and abilities? How did he treat his friends? (Invite children to respond.)

Yes, Jesus served his friends and used his power and abilities for other people. He was the most powerful steward of what God gave Him. God has given you and me many things to be stewards and managers of: things we own, where we live, where we learn, our families, friends, and abilities. How are you taking care of them?

Managing something well means:

1. You treat the thing or the person as belonging to God and not to you
2. You handle it with love
3. You invest time into developing or caring for it

When you manage well the people in your life and the things and abilities you have, you represent God to the world around you. By being a good manager you are joining God in his restoration project to heal broken relationships between people and God, between people and each other, and between people and creation. Nothing is more important than this!

CLOSING

Leader: God, you gave each of us many things: our families, friends, things we own, abilities and talents, our neighborhoods we live in, opportunities to learn and so much more. You created and put us here to manage these things well. Help us not take these things for granted or use these things for our own self. God, open our eyes to see the incredible responsibility you've given us and help us manage all of these well by your power so that you shine brightly in this world. In Jesus' name, amen.