Lesson For The Week (May 16)

Money Matters
For the love of money is a source of all kinds of evil. Some have been so eager to have it that they have wandered away from the faith and have broken their hearts with many sorrows. (I Timothy 6:10)

Getting Started
What would you do if you had a million dollars? What would you do if you had a million dollars but you had to give it away? We all like money. There are so many great things we can do with money! We can see the world, go to school, help our families, and buy gifts for our friends. We need money so that we can take care of ourselves and our families. But of course, money can be dangerous too. We’ve all heard stories on the news about people who lied, stole, or even killed because of money! How can we keep money from becoming a problem in our lives?

Vocabulary
eternal (n) — lasting forever, without end
commandment (n) — a command or order given with authority
commit (v) — to do or perform
accuse (v) — to charge with an error or wrongdoing
falsely (adv) — to do so untruthfully; done to deceive
assure (v) — to remove all doubt; to cause to feel sure of
needle (n) — a small, thin tool used for sewing or mending things
amazed (adj) — filled with wonder and surprise

Reading God’s Word

Matthew 19: 16-26

16 Once a man came to Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what good thing must I do to receive eternal life?" 17 "Why do you ask me concerning what is good?" answered Jesus. "There is only One who is good. Keep the commandments if you want to enter life." 18 "What commandments?" he asked. Jesus answered, "Do not commit murder; do not commit adultery; do not steal; do not accuse anyone falsely; 19 respect your father and your mother; and love your neighbor as you love yourself." 20 "I have obeyed all these commandments," the young man replied. "What else do I need to do?" 21 Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go and sell all you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven; then come and follow me." 22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he was very rich. 23 Jesus then said to his disciples, "I assure you: it will be very hard for rich people to enter the Kingdom of heaven. 24 I repeat: it is much harder for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God than for a camel to go through the eye of a needle." 25 When the disciples heard this, they were completely amazed. "Who, then, can be saved?" they asked. 26 Jesus looked straight at them and answered, "This is impossible for human beings, but for God everything is possible."

Taking a Closer Look
1. What question does the rich man ask?
2. What does Jesus say the man has to do to be perfect?
3. Do you think you could do this?
4. What does the rich man love the most?
5. Why is it so hard for rich people to enter the kingdom of heaven?
6. Why are the disciples amazed? What are they worried about?
7. How can God help us do what is impossible?

Taking Action
1. What does God want us to love the most?
2. Is it always a bad thing to be rich?
3. How can we receive eternal life?

Click me for...
Chinese Translation
Past Lessons