Coveting Creates Unthankfulness

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Want to Tell Somebody?

Exodus 20:17 “You shall not covet … anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
Ephesians 5:20 Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Supplies: three volunteers (one with hat, one with a special shirt, one with new or expensive shoes

(In this segment, you as the teacher will actually be role playing. To set the scene properly, don’t call the class to order as normal. Instead, begin carrying on casual conversation with the children as you would before class begins. After asking one or two children about their weeks, carry on the following discussion. Speak to a different child about each object.)
Hey, that’s a pretty nice watch you have there! Where did you get it? Wow! I wish mine was like that.

(To child with sports shoes…) Oh, let me see your shoes! Those are wonderful! I’ve always wanted some shoes like that. I’ve never been able to afford them.

Hey, that’s a nice shirt! I wish I had a shirt like that. I don’t have any shirts like yours.

Look at his hat! What a great hat! I wish I had a hat like that. (Sigh) I guess I wish I had a lot of things.

(Snap out of role and begin regular teaching.) Do you know what I was just doing? I was showing you what it is like to envy or covet, to always be wanting things that belong to someone else. How did it make you feel when I compared what I had to you? (Allow response.)

How did I sound? I sounded pretty negative, didn’t I? How did envying make me feel? (Allow response.) You’re right, it discouraged me and made me unthankful for all the nice things I have. We all have problems at times with wishing we had things that belong to someone else. Let’s ask God to help us realize today what things we have been coveting and help us understand how to be more thankful for what we already have. (Lead in prayer.)