The Real Winner

TEXT: Luke 14:7-14; Matthew 6:1-4

Amy was so excited she could hardly wait to get to school! Today Miss Brown would announce the winner of the Student of the Year award. Miss Brown thought about several things in choosing the winner. Among them were good grades, helping after school, neatness, and being friendly.

As Amy and her classmate Jenny walked to school, they talked about the coming summer vacation. Then Jenny said that she had just remembered that today was the day for the Student of the Year award.

"How could you have forgotten that?" Amy asked with a surprised look. "Of course it means more to me than to most. I already have a place on my wall to hang the award. I can't wait!"

Now Jenny looked surprised. "Did Miss Brown already tell you that you won?"

"No, but I'm sure I will. Really, Jenny, who do you think she would give it to besides me?"

"Well, I'm not sure," said Jenny. "But there are quite a few students who have done really well this year."

Amy said, "One of those is me, right? After all, I got straight A's on my report cards. My clothes are nicer than anyone else's. I always helped Miss Brown clean up the art area after school. And who is more popular than me?"

Jenny didn't know what to say. So she just prayed silently that God would show Amy that pride was an awful thing. If only Amy loved Jesus, she thought to herself.

The time came for the big announcement. Everyone was looking at the teacher. "I'm happy to say that Jenny Peters is the winner of the Student of the Year award," Miss Brown said.

Amy had already started to stand up. She dropped back into her seat with a shocked look. Some of her classmates giggled because she had told them that she would win. Tears came to her eyes.

Miss Brown went on, "Jenny won the award for many reasons. She has good grades. But even more important, she is kind and helpful to her classmates. She helped James with his reading after class and showed Glenda how to bat a baseball. Jenny knows that it is good to think of others and not just herself."

Amy was very unhappy. But after a few days she began to think about how full of pride she was. She thought of how happy and caring Jenny always seemed to be. Is it because she is a Christian? Could Jesus help me to be happy? The first chance I get I'm going to ask Jenny.

PARENT'S CORNER

Even the primary child is able to recognize the great difference between a proud and humble spirit. Given the chance, he will probably be able to relate some specific examples from his own experience. The importance of having the right spirit is the thought that we will emphasize in this lesson.

In your time together this week, explain to your child that God wants us to put others before ourselves. This is what He expects of His followers. Be sure to present some examples relative to your child's age and experience. If your child knows the chorus, "J-O-Y," it would make a good theme song around your home during the week, as it emphasizes the thought, "Jesus first, yourself last, and others in between."

As a hands-on project during this time, let your child make up his own dot-to-dot activity to form the letters J-O-Y.