Following Christ’s example of responsiblity leads us to care for the needs of others
In our culture it is easy to get caught up in everything we are juggling and miss what’s going on around us. We become so focused on ourselves, our jobs, our families that we don’t see all of the opportunities to care for others that God puts in our path. It’s not always easy to care for the needs of others. Sometimes it’s down right inconvenient. But it’s loving. It’s kind. It’s what Christ did for us and it’s what He calls us to do for others.
RESPONSIBILITY: Being someone that God can count on
MEMORY VERSE: “Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done and you won’t need to compare yourself to others. For we are each responsible for our own conduct.” Galatians 6:4-5
This Week’s Finish Line: I Can Pay Careful Attention to the Needs of Others!
The genealogy of Jesus lists 5 unique women including Ruth, a Moabite widow. The “responsible” choice for her would have been to stay in her own country with her family until she got remarried. Instead, she chose to step out in faith and trust God was leading her to Israel so she could care for the needs of her mother-in-law, Naomi. Thru her life she showed that the right choice isn’t always the easy choice. It cost her dearly but choosing to be responsible for the needs of others glorified God in ways she could never imagine.
In Philippians 2:5-11 we see how Jesus, from the line of Ruth and Boaz, also sacrificed in order to care for the needs of others. He chose to give up unimaginable glory and walk on earth as a man, to be beaten and eventually killed to pay the debt we never could. He is our perfect example of what it means to look past ourselves and care for the needs of others.
Family Questions:
- How did Ruth take responsibility for Naomi’s needs? What did she have to give up in order to do it?
- What debt do we owe that we can never pay? What did Jesus sacrifice in order to meet our need?
- Identify some needs of the people in your life. What might you have to give up in order to take responsibility and care for their needs?
- Just because you CAN do something, does that always make it the most responsible choice? Can you think of scenarios where the responsible choice is not the easy choice?
Bring It Home: 3 Ways to Challenge Kids to be Responsible for Others’ Needs
Secret Servants
Write the names of everyone in your family on slips of paper. Have each person draw out a name and keep it secret. Be sure no one gets their own name. The challenge this week is to find simple ways to serve that person or meet their needs secretly. Some suggestions: do one of their chores, make them an encouraging card, give them a gift. At the end of the week, take everyone out for a treat and reveal who everyone’s secret servant was.
Sticky Situations
This week in small group the kids read through several stories taken from the book, Sticky Situations. Continue the conversation their small group leaders started by putting your kids into these situations. Ask them to identify the need. What would you have to sacrifice to help? Which is the easy and which is the responsible choice? Have each of your family members think of other situations you may face that will require you to make a responsible choice in order to care for the needs of others.
Take Action in Our City
All throughout the city of Dallas there are people with needs you can help care for. Start early with your kids and set an example of what it means to be responsible to care for the needs of others. Watermark’s External Focus team wants to help you get connect with ministries that work all throughout the city. Visit their Act to Impact page for ways your whole family can serve our community together!
Prayer: Philippians 2:5-8
Thank God for caring for our needs, especially the need for a savior, and for Christ’s sacrifice that paid the debt we could never pay. Ask God to help you have the same attitude as Christ so that you can look past yourself and pay careful attention to the needs of others. Thank Him for the people in your life who care for your needs.
Talk Back
Tell us one way your family has reached out to help someone in need. Where have you served together? Did serving together as a family bring you closer together? How?
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