After worship on Sunday, one of our fourth graders presented me with a piece of paper from his worship bag. He had drawn a line down the middle to create two columns. At the top of the left-hand column was the word “Needs.” The right-hand column was titled “Wants.”
Had I looked at him during the sermon on the parable of “Lazarus and the rich man,” I might have concluded he was not paying attention while he concentrated on the paper in front of him.
“Needs: Food, Clothes, House, Family, Warmth, Life, God, Jesus, Joy, Laughter, Happiness, Love, Grateful.”(This is a wonderfully perceptive list of physical, emotional and spiritual needs.)
“Wants: Phone, TV, Nintendo, Gameboy, Fish, Dog, Cat, Toys, Computer, Boat.” (Note the electronics and pets!)
Hmmm. A fourth grade boy used the materials in the children’s worship bags to apply the sermon to his own life. We think they’re not listening. They are.
Photo by Marjon Kruik, Creative Commons
This material is Copyrighted © 2010 by Jeffrey S. Rogers. It may be copied or disseminated for non-commercial use, provided this notice is included. The author can be contacted at jeff.rogers@firstbaptistgreenville.com.
