Hi again! Today we are learning more from Proverbs. One of the ways to be wise and make good choices is by giving to others.

The Bible tells us the most important thing is to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind. And you must love your neighbor just as much as you love yourself.” Luke 10:27.

Proverbs talks about this A LOT.

14:21: “It is a sin to belittle one’s neighbor; blessed are those who help the poor.”

14:31: “Those who oppress the poor insult their Maker, but helping the poor honors him.”

19:17: “If you help the poor, you are lending to the Lord—and he will repay you!”

28:27: “Whoever gives to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to poverty will be cursed.”

29:7: “The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern.”

31:20: (the woman of faith) “She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.”

One way to show you are a wise person is by thinking of others! What are some ways we can do that? Christmas is a popular time to give to others, but we can give all the time!

Some ideas in our family include: donating to a local women’s shelter, donating items and time to our local foster care agency, being a foster family, sharing what we have with those in need on the street, sponsoring a child overseas, welcoming all friends even if they don’t look like us or have the same things we have…you can donate your old clothes, volunteer to tutor, mentor (big brothers and big sisters programs), or serve at a food shelter. Even helping someone who has a sad heart. We can be aware of what other people are going through. Sometimes people are mean to other kids because they look different, sound different or dress different…but the great thing is…God made us ALL different! And we can love others by standing up for them when someone else is being mean to them.

The best part is, you don’t have to have money to love others! Jesus didn’t have a lot money and He was the BEST example of loving others. He washed his disciples’ stinky feet, we was a friend to EVERYONE, even people who were sick or mean. He helped sick people get better, and He cried with His friends who were sad. Jesus was a GREAT friend. He even gave up His life for us, dying on the cross.

** Parents: Of course these are things our children will learn from SEEING us do continually. Children often learn more from our actions than our words.

Maybe your family can sit down and make a list of at least one way to show love to others each month of the year. Or maybe each Sunday evening you can think of one way to serve someone that week. Proverbs says that WISE people look out for others and help take care of them.

THIS VIDEO posted by Haytham Ibrahim may be better suited to older kids, but does really show how taking time to show others God’s love every day makes a difference.

THIS is a pretty cute song that kind of goes along with today’s lesson posted by Dakota Pyle.

And a classic Veggie Tales song from the Good Samaritan lesson posted by guardian tony.

Thanks again for joining us! Love to you all!