YEA Lesson Library
Do Not Envy
About This Lesson
This lesson introduces the Tenth Commandment - Do not covet - to the student. It explains that wanting what others have can lead to bad behaviors.
Scriptures
Exodus 20:17-18
1 Kings 21:1-16
Psalm 10:3
Proverbs 27:4
Romans 1:28-29
Romans 7:7
1 Corinthians 13:4
Philippians 4:6
1 Timothy 6:10
James 4:1-2
Words to Know
ENVY - to desire something that belongs to someone else
POUT - to stick out your lip when you don’t get what you want
The Lesson
Ahab was a king over Israel. He lived in a beautiful palace. Ahab had lots of nice things. But, he wasn’t a good king. He did things he shouldn’t do.
Naboth was a farmer. His farm was near the palace. The farm had been in Naboth’s family for a long, long time. Naboth grew grapes on his farm. His daddy and granddaddy grew grapes there before him.
One day King Ahab looked out at Naboth’s farm. He saw it was a good farm. It was very close to his palace. Ahab wanted Naboth’s farm for his own. He wanted to plant a garden there. Ahab told Naboth he wanted to buy his farm. He said he would give Naboth money for the farm. But, Naboth said, “No way!” He didn’t want to sell it.
King Ahab was very angry. He went home and wouldn’t eat anything. He acted like a spoiled brat. Ahab went to his room and pouted. He told his wife, Jezebel, that Naboth wouldn’t sell his farm.
Then Jezebel did a terrible thing. She found two bad men to cause trouble. They told lies about Naboth. The people of the city believed the lies. They took Naboth out of the city and threw stones at him until he was dead.
Ahab was greedy and envied what Naboth had. Envy causes people to do bad things. God wants us to be happy with what we have. He wants us to obey His commands.
Activity
Teaching the Lesson:
Legacy Lesson: Student book/Teacher book - Teaching Time: 20 mins.
Lesson Prep - Teacher book - Time: 45 mins.
Teacher-Directed Activity: “Want” or “Thankful For” - Time: 25 mins.
Song: “God Is So Good”- page 87 of Kids Classics Collection - Time: 5 mins.
Activity in Student Text: Color and Tell - Time: 10 mins.
Alternate Ways to Present Lesson (YEAH):
Extending the Lesson - Additional Activities - REACH:
Daily Teaching Suggestions for each lesson - Daily Time: 15-20 mins.
Daily Devotions
Sunday - Romans 1:28-29
Monday - Proverbs 27:4
Tuesday - Philippians 4:6
Wednesday - Romans 7:7
Thursday - Psalm 10:3
Friday - 1 Timothy 6:10
Saturday - James 4:1-2
Objectives
At the end of this lesson, the children will be able to:
1. State that when you envy you are not thankful for what you have.
2. Tell what King Ahab did when he didn’t get what he wanted.
3. Explain what God wants us to do instead of being greedy.
4. Recite their memory verse about being kind and not envying.
Topics & Themes
Ahab
Contentment
Envy/Jealousy
Greed
Jezebel
Lying
Murder
Naboth
Obedience
Stealing
Ten Commandments
Coveting
Lying
Murder
Stealing
Preparation
While watching toddler children at play, it soon becomes evident that you don’t have to teach them to be greedy or envious. It is inborn. Give one child a new toy. Before long, the other children will all discard what they were playing with and grasp for the same toy saying, “Mine, mine!” or “Gimme, gimme!”
God wants to give us all good things. We are told to make our requests known unto Him (Philippians 4:6). Desiring things is not wrong in and of itself. It becomes sin when the desire is so strong that we are willing to do anything to obtain the desired object, even if it hurts someone else.
We must take care to be thankful for what we already have. God’s priority is found in Matthew 6:33, “But put God’s kingdom first. Do what he wants you to do. Then all of those things will also be given to you” (NIrV).
Teaching preschoolers not to be envious (covetous) involves teaching them to share, to be kind, and to be thankful for what they have.
Before you come to class, cut out magazine pictures of families, clothes, food, houses, cars, pets, and toys that would be of interest to children. You will need enough pictures for each child to have several. Place a sheet of butcher’s paper on the wall. Draw a line dividing the paper into two sections. Label the left side, “Wants” and the right side, “Thankful For.”
Begin this lesson with an object lesson on envy. Place the Dudley-Do-Right puppet on a soda bottle behind a stack of books, so it appears he is looking over them. (An assistant, Greedy Greta, enters the room with her arms full of toys and dolls.)
Review Questions
(Have Dudley ask the questions.)
1. What does it mean to envy or be greedy?
2. What did Greta do when she didn’t get what she wanted?
3. Is envy a good thing or a bad thing?
4. What did King Ahab want?
5. What did he do when he didn’t get what he wanted?
6. What should we do instead of envying?
Teacher-Directed Activity
Tell the children it is okay to want things, but they should first be thankful for what they have. Have the children choose magazine pictures and glue them on the butcher’s paper either under “Want” or “Thankful For.”
REACH Activity
Letter: GR (Note: Teach this blend as a unit.)
Words: greedy, grew, grapes, granddaddy
Sentence: NABOTH GREW GRAPES IN A GARDEN NEAR THE PALACE.
Song
“God Is So Good” is on page 87 of Kids Classics Collection.
Closing Prayer
Lead the children in prayer, thanking God for giving the Ten Commandments that teach us how to Grow God’s Way.
Printable Pages
