Children’s Sermon

1 Kings 21:1-14

It Belongs to Someone Else

It Belongs to Someone Else

1 Kings 21:1-14

By Richard Niell Donovan

Did you ever want something that belonged to someone else?

• Maybe your friend had a toy that you liked––and you wanted that toy.
• Or maybe your friend had a doll that you liked––and you wanted that doll.
• Or maybe your friend had a baseball glove––a catcher’s mitt––that you liked.
• Or maybe your friend had a really nice video game that you liked.

We all have experiences like that.  We all see things that we would like––but they belong to someone else.  Sometimes I see a car that I would like––but it belongs to someone else.  Sometimes I see a house that I would like––but it belongs to someone else.

So what should I do if I see a car that I like––but it belongs to someone else?

• Should I hit them over the head and take the car away from them? (Answers)
• Should I wait until they are asleep and steal the car?  (Answers)

Can you suggest what you might do if you want something that someone else has? (Answers)

Well, there are several possibilities, aren’t there.

• Maybe they would let you borrow their toy––if you asked nicely––and if you would be sure to return it.  If you borrow something from someone, you have to be especially careful with it, don’t you.  You don’t want to break it––and you do want to be sure to return it on time.

• Or maybe they would share it with you.  Maybe they would let you play with them.  Maybe they could use the catcher’s mitt when their team was in the field––and you could use it when your team was in the field.

• Or maybe you just need to see if your parents would pay you for doing chores around the house.  Then maybe you could save enough money to buy a toy like that––or a doll––or a catcher’s mitt.

But if you ever get to the point where you want something so badly that you are tempted to hit someone over the head to get it––or to steal it––then there’s something else that you should do.  If you ever feel like that, you need to pray to God that he will take away those bad feelings.  You need to pray that God will help you be thankful for what you have––and not to feel bad about the things that you don’t have.

Then you and your friends can play nicely together––and you can all be happy.

Copyright 2016, Richard Niell Donovan