Verse: What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? - James 4:1

Passages: 1 Samuel 25:1-13

One day, Nabal, a rich man who owned land and many sheep, prepared a feast for his family and his shepherds. David, who had protected Nabal’s shepherds from thieves and enemy raiders, sent some of his men to ask Nabal for a donation of food or whatever he had.

Nabal refused to give David’s men a single thing and sent them away saying, “Who is David? I don’t even know him.”

When David’s servants told him what Nabal had said, David was furious and commanded four hundred of his men; “Put on your swords and come with me.”

How do quarrels start?

A quarrel starts when two or more people disagree about something. Each one believes that he or she is right and an exchange of angry words may eventually end in a fight.

Do you remember how the first quarrel between two people started? They were brothers. Cain was jealous of Abel because Abel’s sacrifice was pleasing to the Lord, and his was not. Instead of doing what was right, the jealousy that burned in Cain’s heart led him to kill his brother.

The sinful desires of selfishness, pride, revenge, and jealousy stir up angry emotions that keep us from thinking clearly. Because we are selfish, we don’t try to understand how the other person sees things, which brings about misunderstanding.

Do you think Nabal should have given David some food? Did he even know David, or had he asked David to keep his shepherds safe?

Do you think David had a right to ask for food? When he didn’t get it, did he have the right to threaten or kill Nabal?

To avoid quarrels we should try to see things the way the other person would, and not think we are always right.

Go in peace my little brothers and sisters in Christ.

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Verse: Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness. - James 3:18

Passages: 1 Samuel 25:18-19, 23-31

Abigail wasted no time in thinking of a plan to stop David and his men from killing her husband Nabal. She took two hundred loaves of bread, some wine, five sheep, grain, and cakes of raisins and figs. She loaded everything on donkeys and told her servants to go on ahead. She didn’t tell Nabal that she was going out to meet David.

When Abigail saw David coming, she bowed down with her face to the ground. “My master,” she said, “let me take the blame for what has happened and do not pay any attention to what Nabal said. The Lord will make you king because you are fighting His battles. Please take this present and do not take Nabal’s life. And when the Lord has made you king of Israel, you won’t have to feel guilty for having taken someone’s life unnecessarily.”

Then David said, “Praise the Lord who sent you to me today. Thank God for your good sense and for keeping me from taking revenge.”

How can I end a quarrel between my friends?

How does one stop a fight or a quarrel without becoming part of it, making things worse, or taking sides? Abigail knew that unless she did something, someone was going to get hurt. Let’s see what she did to bring peace to an ugly situation:

• She didn’t take sides. Although Abigail was married to Nabal, she tried to understand the way David felt.

• She made an effort. Abigail gave of her own food, worked out a clever plan, and used her servants (see verse 18-19).

• She was willing to take a risk. She put herself between Nabal and David (see verse 23-24).

• She helped David see the bigger picture. Abigail convinced him not to do something he would regret later (see verse 30-31).

Go in peace my little brothers and sisters in Christ.

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Verse: Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. - Hebrews 13:17

Passages: 1 Samuel 26:1-12, 17-21

Some men came to Saul and told him that David was hiding in the desert. So Saul went out with three thousand of his best soldiers to track David down.

David and the men with him were hiding in a cave. That night, David asked one of his men to go with him to Saul’s camp. So David and Abishai crept into the camp where Saul and his soldiers were sleeping. Abishai said to David, “God has put the enemy in your power. Let me kill him.”

But David said, “No! God has made him king. It is not right for us to take his life. But let’s take his water jug and his spear and get out of here.”

They left the camp without waking a single soldier. Then David crossed to the other side of the valley and shouted to Saul’s commander, “Abner! Aren’t you the greatest man in Israel? Why did you not protect your master, the king? Look around you. Where is the king’s shield and where is his water jug?”

When Saul heard that it was David, he was ashamed of what he was doing. “I have done wrong,” he said. “I will never harm you again because you have spared my life.” So David went on his way and Saul returned home.

Should I respect ungodly leaders?

Imagine if there were no traffic officers to stop people who ignore the rules of the road, or imagine if there weren’t any rules at all. People would drive on the wrong side of the road and race through intersections, not caring for the safety of others.

If a traffic officer does not believe in God it does not give us the right to disobey or ignore him. Similarly, our parents, teachers, and everyone else who keeps order in our country should be obeyed and respected—whether they believe in God or not.

Go in peace my little brothers and sisters in Christ.

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Verse: The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. - 1 Corinthians 3:8

Passages: 1 Samuel 30:1-3, 16-25

One day, when David and his men got back to the town where they were staying, they found that the Amalekites had attacked the town, burned everything, and taken the women and children. David prayed and asked the Lord, “Shall we go after the raiders and will we catch them?” The Lord answered and told David to go after them.

So David and his men set out to find the Amalekites, but along the way, some of David’s men were too exhausted to carry on and stayed behind. The others went on and attacked the raiders, taking all their possessions. They also rescued their wives and children.

When those who had gone out to fight got back, they didn’t want to share what they had brought back with those who had stayed behind. But David said, “Everyone must get the same; those who guarded the supplies must get the same as those who went into battle.”

Is everyone’s work for the Lord equally important?

One would think that David’s defeat of the Amalekites was far more important than looking after sheep? Surely, a shepherd’s task of guarding sheep is not as important as defending people against their enemies. Yet to God the most important thing is not the size of the task, but whether we are obedient and faithful. God was just as pleased with David while he was a shepherd as when he was out fighting Israel’s enemies.

Each of us has been given a task in God’s kingdom. When we do it well, God trusts us with another, maybe bigger and more difficult task. When David had proved his faithfulness and courage by looking after his father’s sheep, the Lord knew that he was ready for another task—looking after His people.

Go in peace my little brothers and sisters in Christ.

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Verse: Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. - Psalm 23:4

Passages: 2 Samuel 1:1-12

When David came back from his battle with the Amalekites, a young man arrived with bad news.

The Philistines had attacked Saul’s army on the mountain of Gilboa. The fighting was fierce and in the chaos of battle, an arrow hit and wounded Saul. Saul killed himself by falling on his own sword. Jonathan and his brothers also died in the battle, together with those who had not fled.

When David heard about the death of Saul and Jonathan, he tore his clothes and cried bitterly until evening.

How can I comfort a friend when someone has died?

You would probably feel a little uneasy talking to a friend who has lost someone through death. It would seem out of place to talk about everyday things, and yet it may feel awkward to talk about death. When you meet your friend, you need not try to look or feel as sad as they do, but rather show your genuine care.

Sometimes it is best not to say too much, but just to sit quietly with your friend. They will feel your love even though you don’t say much. If your friend would like to talk, ask them what they admired most about the person who died, or ask them to tell you about the fun times that they remember having together.

Tell your friend how it makes you feel to see them so sad. You can tell them that God loves them very much and feels sad with them. Encourage them to tell God how they feel. If your friend doesn’t feel like praying, you could ask if it would be okay to say a prayer for them. Pray that God will help them to feel His great love, and thank Him for the hope we have of being together one day in Heaven.

Go in peace my little brothers and sisters in Christ.

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Verse: I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever. - Psalm 145:1

Passages: 2 Samuel 5:1-7, 9-10

David was thirty years old when the leaders of the tribes of Israel came to him and said; “You are one of us. Even when Saul was our king, you led the people of Israel into battle, and the Lord also promised that you would rule His people.”

Then they anointed David as their king and he ruled Israel for forty years. David captured the walled city of Jerusalem and ruled from there. The city became known as The City of David.

How can I let Jesus be King of my life?

Would you like to have a real king in your life and become part of his kingdom? You can! You can let the King of the whole universe rule in your life from this moment on. He is the best King you could ever have—a King who loves you, who is powerful, who is completely fair—and a king who lives forever.

The King wants you to:

• obey Him (John 14:23)

• serve him (John 15:16)

• be loyal to Him (Luke 16:13)

The King will:

• keep you safe (John 10:28)

• let you live in peace (John 14:27)

• give you what belongs to Him (Romans 8:17)

• give you a new life that never ends (John 3:16)

All you need to do is tell Jesus that you want Him to be your King. By doing that you become part of God’s Kingdom and receive a big gift! You receive ETERNAL LIFE. When you ask Jesus to become King of your life and you allow Him to rule in your heart, His Spirit comes to live in you. From that moment on, He will never leave you: He will always be there to guide you and help you do what is right.

Go in peace my little brothers and sisters in Christ.

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Verse:Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. - Matthew 24:35

Passages: 2 Samuel 6:1-11

Now that David was king at last, his first thought was to bring the Covenant Box back to where it could be kept safe. It was still at Abinadab’s home. David’s men took it and placed it on a cart drawn by oxen. Everyone was dancing and making a joyful noise.

As they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, the oxen stumbled, and Uzzah reached out to take hold the Covenant Box. The Lord God was angry with Uzzah for touching the box, and Uzzah died there next to it. David was angry because the Lord had punished Uzzah; but he was also afraid, so he took the box to the house of Obed-Edom.

Could the Word of God ever disappear?

Do you remember what Moses put inside the Covenant Box? Look up 1 Kings 8:9 to see what it was—and if it was still there? Yes, after all this time the commandments were still in the box because the Lord was very strict about anyone touching it. Only the priests, whose special job it was to carry the Ark of the Covenant, were allowed to touch it.

The commandments were more than just a set of rules. God had made a promise (covenant) that those who keep His rules will be His people, and that He will love them and care for them (Psalm 103:17-18).

God has given us the Bible with commands and promises: commands we must obey, and promises that God will keep. He has also given a strict warning to anyone who tries to change a single word in the Bible (Revelation 22:18-19). That is why we can trust what God has told us in the Bible and be assured that His Word will never disappear.

Go in peace my little brothers and sisters in Christ.

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Verse:Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord.
- Ephesians 5:19

Passages: 2 Samuel 6:12-19

The Lord blessed Obed-Edom and his family while the Covenant Box was at his house. After a few months, when David heard how the Lord had blessed him, he went out with some of his men to fetch it.

Then David and the Israelites took the Covenant Box to Jerusalem with shouts of joy and the sound of trumpets. As the box was brought into Jerusalem, David danced and jumped around with joy. Afterwards, he gave everyone bread, meat and raisins to celebrate the happy occasion.

How can I show my joy in worship?

What do sports fans do when their team wins a nail-biting match? What do you do when you get really excited? Do you feel like jumping up and down, or shouting out aloud?

If you get excited about praising God, you might find it difficult to sit completely still and not even tap your foot. That is how David felt when the Covenant Box came home. He was overjoyed and so was everyone else. The people were shouting with joy and blowing trumpets.

God loves it when we get excited about Him, just as He gets excited about us (Zephaniah 3:17). When you worship God, you can clap (Psalm 47:1); you can sing and shout (Psalm 108:1); and you can make music and dance (Psalm 149:3). You should remember, though, that your worship should be honoring to the Lord. You should never become disrespectful by the way you show your enthusiasm.

David’s wife, who was watching him as he entered the city, was not happy with the way he danced in front of everyone. But David did not mind about what she thought, and he was not embarrassed by what he did, because he was dancing to honor the King of kings.

Go in peace my little brothers and sisters in Christ.

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Verse: I rejoiced with those who said to me, "Let us go to the house of the LORD.“ - Psalm 122:1

Passages: 2 Samuel 7:1-7, 12-13

Things started to settle down in the palace. The Lord had kept David safe from his enemies, and now he was king of Israel. However, David started feeling a little uneasy in his heart. He called the prophet Nathan and said, “Here I am, living in a beautiful palace while God’s Covenant Box is being kept in a tent.”

Nathan replied, “Do whatever you are thinking because the Lord is with you.”

But that night the Lord said to Nathan, “Tell David that he is not the one to build the Temple for Me to live in. I will make one of his sons king and he will build the Temple for Me.”

Is a church building important?

If God is everywhere, why was it so important for David to build a Temple for the Lord to live in?

If we can pray to the Lord and read our Bibles wherever we like, why is it important to go to a church building?

The Bible tells us that all those who believe in Jesus are a part of His body, the Church. That means every believer fits into a special place like a living stone in His Temple. (1 Peter 2:4-5).

But if we, as living stones, are scattered all over the place and never get together, no one would even know that we are part of one big Church. If we only watched a preacher on TV or listened to a sermon on the radio, it just wouldn’t be the same as going to worship the Lord together with other believers.

Although a building is not important, the fact that we should get together is important—whether it is under a tree, in a tent, or in a beautiful stone building. When we get together, God is there!

Go in peace my little brothers and sisters in Christ.

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Verse: On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
- Revelation 19:16

Passages: 2 Samuel 7:18-22, 25-29

After Nathan told David that the Lord wanted one of his sons to build the Temple, David was very happy. He went to the Tent of the Lord and prayed.

David said to the Lord; “I am not worthy of what You have done for me. Now You are doing even more by making this promise about my son. You have done these things to teach me. How great you are Sovereign Lord. There is none like You! And now Sovereign Lord, do what You have promised.”

Can a king have a king?

Is there anyone greater than a king? Would you dare to go tell a king that he is actually not the greatest? Probably he would not be very happy to find out that he is not the greatest after all.

David realized that there is someone much greater. Even though he was the king of a great nation, he knew that God had put him there and that God could replace him.

David learned that joy and peace come from knowing that there is someone higher and more powerful than him. The joy he had felt as a shepherd was still in his heart, and even now that he was king, he still relied on God. David said, “Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray” Psalm 5:2.

When David was a shepherd he thought like a shepherd and prayed to God as being His Shepherd (Psalm 23).

Now that David was a king, he thought like a king and spoke to God as His Sovereign Lord (verse 27). By calling God Sovereign, he was saying that God is his King, and because David himself was a king, it makes God the King of kings.

Go in peace my little brothers and sisters in Christ.

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Verse: … In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will. - (Ephesians 1:4-5)

Passages: 2 Samuel 9:1-13

One day David asked, “Is there anyone of Saul’s family still living, because I would like to show him kindness for the sake of Jonathan.” Jonathan, David’s best friend had been killed in a battle.

Ziba, one of Saul’s servants told David that Jonathan had a son Mephibosheth (try saying Muh-fib-o-sheth).

At the age of five, when news of Saul and Jonathan’s death reached the city, the nurse who had been looking after Mephibosheth picked him up and fled. She was afraid that he would be killed too. But as she ran she tripped and dropped him. Mephibosheth became crippled in both legs.

When Mephibosheth was brought before David, David said, “Don’t be afraid, I will be kind to you for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will give you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul.” And from that day on Mephibosheth ate at David’s table as though he was one of his very own sons.

Can I belong to two families?

Do you know what it means to be adopted? A son or daughter can be taken in by a new family and become a true child of that family, even though he or she was not born into that family.

When Mephibosheth was adopted into David’s family, he was treated as if he had been born into David’s family. From one day to the next he became a king’s kid.

There is no need for a family to adopt you if you already have parents looking after you. But you can be adopted into God’s family and still stay part of your family. When Jesus rules in your heart, you are a child of the King of kings as well!

Go in peace my little brothers and sisters in Christ.

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Verse: Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. - Psalm 51:2

Passages: 2 Samuel 12:1-10, 13

One evening, while David was walking on the flat roof of his palace, he saw a beautiful woman having a bath. He told his servants to find out who she was and bring her to the palace. When David found out that she was married and that her husband was in his army fighting the Ammonites, he sent a message to the commander telling him to move Uriah to the front ranks where the fighting was fiercest. David wanted Uriah to get killed so he could marry his wife Bathsheba.

Uriah did get killed and David married Bathsheba. What he had done was wrong in the Lord’s eyes. So the Lord sent the prophet Nathan to show David how that he had taken something very precious from someone else. Then David confessed his sin and said, “I have sinned against the Lord.”

Will the Lord ever forgive me for something really bad?

Do you have old clothes that are stained? Maybe there is a blob of ink or paint that just won’t go away completely, no matter how many times it's been through the wash.

What David did was really bad! He wanted something (someone) that didn’t belong to him. He had Uriah killed and brought dishonor to the Lord. Do you think that David deserved to be forgiven after all that the Lord had done for him? No, David did not deserve forgiveness, and neither do we! Not one of us has an excuse for the wrong things we do.

But God is gracious. That means, He will forgive us for every sin—no matter how big it is! However, to be able to forgive us, someone had to take the blame and the punishment for that sin. That person is Jesus. He loves us so much that He chose to be nailed to a cross so that His blood can wash away our sin and make our hearts white as snow.

Go in peace my little brothers and sisters in Christ.

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Verse: Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. - Romans 13:2

Passages: 2 Samuel 15:1-13

Absalom, one of David’s sons did not follow God. He wanted to be king of Israel, and so he gathered loyal followers around him by pretending to care for them and by sorting out their problems.

Absalom wanted the followers to help him take over the throne of his father David. Eventually the number of Absalom’s rebellious followers grew until they had become strong enough to fight David’s army.

How does a rebellion start?

A person who rebels is one who goes against the structures and authorities that keep law and order. Structures are the rules, while authorities are people who make up the rules and see to it that people keep them.

A country has laws to protect its people and make it possible for them to live in peace (1 Timothy 2:2). Your school has rules that keep children and teachers focused. Even a home has certain rules to keep the harmony between everyone.

A rebel is one who disobeys the law and disrespects those in authority, whether it is a parent, a teacher, the leaders of a country, or even God Himself.

Before God created man, an angel in heaven decided to rebel against God. God threw him out of heaven down to earth (Isaiah 14:11-12). His name is Satan.

A rebellion starts when Satan puts bad thoughts in the mind of a person. If the person’s heart is filled with anger, jealousy or pride then those feelings feed the rebellious thoughts. Bad thoughts lead to bad actions and those actions influence others, and so the rebellion spreads.

Go in peace my little brothers and sisters in Christ.

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Verse: This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
- 1 John 4:10

Passages: 2 Samuel 18:1-2, 9, 32-33

Absalom, who wanted to be king, was in a battle against the soldiers of his father’s army. While Absalom was riding on a horse through some trees, his head got stuck in the branches, and he hung there helplessly while his horse kept on going. Joab, one of David’s men found Absalom and killed him with a spear.

Someone went to King David and said; “Praise the Lord, your son who was fighting against you has been killed.”

David went to his room and wept. “Absalom, my son Absalom,“ he cried. “If only I could have died in your place.”

What is the greatest love of all?

Is it unusual for a father to love his son? No, it is natural for a father to love his children. But what if the son hates his father? What if the son gets an army to fight against his father? Surely if a father loves a son even then, his love must be very great. David loved his rebellious son so much that when he heard about Absalom’s death, he cried, “If only I could have died in your place” (verse 33). We know that David had the love of God in his heart because Jesus said: “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” John 15:13.

The greatest love anyone can show is to give his life for someone else. Jesus did that when he gave His life for you. If you want to know what the greatest love is, then see what the Bible says about God’s love. “Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” Romans 5:7-8.

Go in peace my little brothers and sisters in Christ.

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Verse: Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD. - Psalm 34:11

Passages: 1 Kings 2:1-4, 10-12

King David was getting old, so he called his son Solomon to give him some important instructions. “Be confident and be determined,” he said. “Do whatever the Lord your God orders you to do. If you obey the Lord’s commands, He will keep the promises He has made.”

Soon after this, David died and was buried in Jerusalem, the City of David. Solomon took over from David and became king of Israel.

Will I be able to do the difficult things my parents do?

As you watch your mom cooking, or see your dad sorting through piles of bills, do you wonder if you will be able to do all those things that adults do?

The responsibilities that your parents have are too great for you to worry about now!

However, when your parents give you chores to do around the house, they are teaching you to do some of the things that they do. By doing them well, you are showing your parents how responsible you are. They will know when you are ready to do tasks that require greater responsibility.

David taught Solomon to become responsible and gave him all the instructions and plans he would need for building the Temple (see 1 Chronicles 28:10-21).

Your parents are not perfect—just as David wasn't perfect. And so, even when they make mistakes, you still need to respect and obey them.

Just as David helped Solomon, your parents are helping you to do practical things like plan, make decisions and save, and they are teaching you to live a life that is right and leads to happiness.

Go in peace my little brothers and sisters in Christ.

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Verse: For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. - Proverbs 2:6

Passages: 1 Kings 3:3-15

Solomon was king. He loved the Lord and tried to please Him in every way. One day he went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices there. That night the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream and said, “What would you like me to give you?”

Solomon answered, “I am very young and I don’t know how to rule. Please give me the wisdom I need to rule Your people and the ability to know the difference between right and wrong.”

The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this and said to him, “Because you have asked for wisdom to rule with fairness instead of asking for long life and riches, I will give you what you have asked for. I will give you more wisdom than anyone has ever had or ever will have, and I will also give you great riches and honor which you did not ask for.”

Will God give me anything I ask for?

Don’t you just love those stories where someone is given three wishes that come true? It is fun to imagine what it would be like to be given a wish like that. If you could ask for anything you liked, what would it be?

What would you tell the Lord if He asked you what you would like, knowing that it was for real, not just a fairy tale?

Jesus said, “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you” (John 15:7). Does it really mean that Jesus will give us whatever we wish for?

If we ask for what is good the Lord will hear our prayer. However, He decides how best to answer that prayer. So how do we know what He wants to give us? Look at the first part of what Jesus said. If we remain in Him (stay close to Him) we learn to pray for the kind of things He would be pleased to give us. Remember that the Lord will not give us something that will harm us or something that we are not ready for.

Go in peace my little brothers and sisters in Christ.

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Verse: Take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. - Ephesians 6:17

Passages: 1 Kings 3:16-28

After King David died, his son Solomon became the new king of Israel, and God gave him great wisdom.

One day, two women came to Solomon with a big problem. They were living together in a house and each one had a baby. That morning, when they woke up, one of the babies had died. Both women argued and said, “The living baby is my baby!”

Then Solomon said, “Bring the baby here so that I can cut it in half, then each of you can have half a baby.”

When the real mother heard that Solomon was going to kill her baby, she said, “No, please don’t kill my baby—rather give the baby to the other woman.” Then Solomon knew that she was the real mother—because she wanted the baby to live—and he gave the baby to her.

How can a sword help me find out the truth?

Imagine if you were a king trying to get someone to tell the truth. Perhaps you could use your sword to threaten the person. But what if the person insisted that he was telling the truth; would you be convinced? Without God’s wisdom, a sword is only a weapon—not a lie detector!

God has given us a different kind of Sword. It is so sharp that it can pierce right into the heart of a person (without making him bleed). The truth of God’s Word can show up a person’s lies and deceit. “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword—it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” Hebrews 4:12.

By reading the Bible we, like Solomon, receive wisdom from God, and because God’s Word is Truth it helps us recognize the lies of the devil more easily.

Go in peace my little brothers and sisters in Christ.

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Verse: How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose understanding rather than silver! - Proverbs 16:16

Passages: 1 Kings 4:20-34

During the reign of King Solomon, there was peace throughout Judah and Israel. Solomon had thousands and thousands of horses and many servants, and his twelve governors supplied him with the best food.

The Lord gave Solomon unusual wisdom and understanding. He knew so much that it was almost impossible to test the limits of his knowledge. He wrote three thousand proverbs and over a thousand songs. He knew all there was to know about plants and trees, and about animals, birds, reptiles and fish.

Solomon ruled over a very large country, and the kings ruling in nearby countries had to pay taxes to him.

Will God also bless me with wealth if I follow Him?

The Bible gives many examples of how God blessed those who honored Him. In Old Testament times, God often blessed people with wealth. He also blessed people by giving them many children and allowing them to live a long life. Can you think of some men in the Old Testament who were very wealthy? Here is a clue: Their names start with A and J.

Jesus said that we should not only think about getting treasure (wealth) here on earth where thieves can steal it, and where moths and rust will destroy it. We should rather store up treasure in Heaven—where it is kept safe for us to enjoy when we get there.

God blesses us in so many ways—not only by giving us things on earth (that don’t last anyway). He is going to give us a share of all His riches (Romans 8:16-17). And He not only gives us long life on earth, but eternal life so that we can enjoy all those treasures for ever and ever.

But for now, we have a sign of God’s promise: the Holy Spirit who lives in us. The Spirit gives us peace and joy so that we can be truly happy now, and for all eternity!

Go in peace my little brothers and sisters in Christ.

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Verse: "We heard him say, `I will destroy this man-made temple and in three days will build another, not made by man.’” - Mark 14:58

Passages: 1 Kings 5:1-7, 6:11-14

King Hiram had always been a friend of King David. When he heard that David had died and that Solomon was King, he sent some of his men to go meet with him. Then Solomon sent a message back with the men, saying; “God did not allow my father to build the Temple, but He did promise that his son would build it. So I have decided to build the Temple. I need the help of your men to bring me cedar wood from Lebanon.”

King Hiram was pleased to help. He got his men to chop down trees, which they floated down the coast. From there, the wood was carried to the building site. Solomon built the Temple with strong stone walls lined from top to bottom with cedar wood on the inside.

And the Lord said, “If you obey all My laws and commands, I will do what I promised. I will live here among My people in this Temple and I will never abandon them.”

What has happened to God’s Temple?

The Temple that Solomon built was not only beautiful; its walls were made of huge blocks of stone. It was built to last! Yet, we read in 2 Chronicles 36:19 that the Temple was completely destroyed by the Babylonians.

Although the Temple was rebuilt many years later, it was never as beautiful as the Temple Solomon built. Many who had seen the first Temple wept when they saw how much smaller the new Temple was going to be (Ezra 3:12). And even this Temple was destroyed (Luke 21:6).

Are you also sad that God doesn’t have a beautiful, big Temple to live in anymore? God doesn’t need a Temple built with stones. He lives in the most beautiful Temple of all—in the hearts of those who love Him (1 Corinthians 6:19).

Go in peace my little brothers and sisters in Christ.

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Verse: Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. - James 3:13

Passages: 1 Kings 10:1-10

As Solomon’s fame spread, the Queen of Sheba heard about his wisdom and traveled to Jerusalem to meet with him. The queen was amazed when she saw Solomon’s palace, all his servants and the loads of tasty food. “Praise the Lord your God, for He has shown just how pleased He is with you,“ she said.

The queen asked Solomon the most difficult questions she could think of—yet there was nothing too difficult for him to explain. Then she gave Solomon the gifts she had brought along, including heaps of gold and jewels. Solomon also gave the queen everything she wanted, as well as many other gifts.

Where can I go for words of wisdom?

It is good to seek wisdom! (Proverbs 3:13). Many wise words have been spoken since time began, and some wise sayings may be helpful in certain situations. However, wisdom from the Bible is more than good advice. God’s treasure of wisdom in the Bible leads to everlasting life. When you store the pearls of wisdom from God’s Word in your heart by learning verses from the Bible, you can use those truths over and over, whenever you need God’s wisdom to make a decision.

Reading the Bible increases your knowledge; doing what it says leads to godliness; applying the truths in the right way at the right time shows wisdom. We can only be truly wise when our relationship with the Lord is right. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding” Psalm 111:10. If you want to be wise, start by using the handbook that was written by the One who created you.

Go in peace my little brothers and sisters in Christ.

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Verse: When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. - Proverbs 11:2

Passages: 1 Kings 11:3-12, 41-43

Solomon became unfaithful to God and sinned against the Lord by worshipping the heathen gods of his wives. He even built special places to worship the gods.

The Lord appeared to Solomon twice and warned him not to worship the foreign gods, but he did not listen to the Lord. So the Lord said to Solomon, “Because you have deliberately disobeyed Me, I will take the kingdom away from you. However, for the sake of your father David, I will only take a part of it away and it will only happen after you have died.” Solomon ruled Israel for forty years, and after he died, his son Rehoboam became king.

Why would a wise man do something foolish?

At what age did you start walking? By now, you should be quite good at walking. Yet even as you grow up, you slip and fall or trip over things. It doesn’t matter how long you have been walking or how good you are at walking, when you take your eyes off the path, you are likely to stumble.

Solomon must have been pretty confident that he was wise enough to solve any problem. He knew just about everything there was to know about the world around him, and he owned more than he could use in a lifetime. What would have made the wisest person on earth do something as foolish as worship silly gods thought up heathen people?

There is a danger of knowing, but not doing; knowing what is right, but not doing it. Wisdom is only useful if it is put in to practice. Jesus said, “But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand”

Matthew 7:26.

Go in peace my little brothers and sisters in Christ.

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Verse: Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. - 1 Peter 2:12

Passages: Job 1:1-12

Long ago, there was a man named Job who lived in the land of Uz. He was a good man and worshipped God. Job had seven sons and three daughters. He also had thousands of camels and sheep, donkeys and many servants.

One day, while the angels were presenting themselves to God, the devil went with them. The Lord said to Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? There is no one on earth as faithful as he is.”

Satan answered, “Job only worships You for what he gets out of it. You have always protected him and everything he owns. If You took everything away from him he would curse You to Your face.”

How can I convince others of my motives?

“You’re only helping mom so you can get something out of her!” Does that kind of talk sound familiar? Job was a good man just minding his own business. He was careful not to do anything that was wrong. The Lord had been watching Job, just as He watches everything we do. This is what the Lord said about Job, “There is no one on earth as faithful and good as he.”

On the other hand, the devil immediately found fault with Job, accusing him of being good only because he wanted the Lord to bless him. (The devil is called the accuser and he tries to make us look bad - Revelation 12:10b). One way in which God could prove that Job’s motive was pure was to allow the devil to take away everything he owned.

You don’t have to convince others of your motive for doing what is right. Your love and faithfulness will show that your intentions are pure, and the Lord who sees your heart knows all things… and that’s all that matters!

Go in peace my little brothers and sisters in Christ.

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Verse: And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. - 1 Corinthians 10:13

Passages: Job 1:12-22

Job was a good man and the Lord blessed him. The devil had been talking to the Lord about Job and was given permission to test Job’s faithfulness, but not to harm him in any way.

So the devil went off to start his attack against Job. One day, raiders came and stole all of Job’s oxen and donkeys. Then lightning struck and killed all the sheep and shepherds. Other raiders came and stole all Job’s camels and killed his servants. And, while his children were having a feast at the home of the eldest, a storm swept across the house and made it collapse, killing all his children. When Job heard what had happened, he got up and tore his clothes with grief, but he did not sin by blaming God.

Will I ever be tested in a way that I can’t handle?

Do you hate tests at school? Are you sometimes nervous as you wait for the test papers to be handed out, afraid that it will be too difficult or that you won’t remember everything? Tests are not much fun! However, once you have written the test and received your marks, you can see just how well you did.

Similarly, we can only know how strong our faith is if it is tested. Through trials, hardships and temptations, our faith is tested and strengthened. The devil doesn’t know whether we will pass or fail the test—but God does!

Jesus knew that his friend Peter was going to face the toughest test of his life. He knew that although Peter would fail this test by denying Him, he would not lose his faith completely. Jesus said to him, “I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail” (Luke 22:32a). Jesus does not keep us from facing problems, but He does make sure that we will never face anything bigger than we can handle

Go in peace my little brothers and sisters in Christ.

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Verse: Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it.” - John 11:4

Passages: Job 2:1-10

Once again, when the angels came before God, the devil appeared there with them. The Lord asked him, “Have you noticed my servant Job? The last time you came, you persuaded Me to let you attack him for no reason—and yet he has stayed faithful.”

The devil replied, “The only reason Job hasn’t cursed You is because he is completely healthy.”

And so the Lord allowed the devil to make Job sick. The devil made sores break out all over Job’s body. Yet, even though his body was terribly sore all over, Job did not sin or turn against God.

Does sickness come from God?

People have different ideas about the reasons and causes of sickness. While it is not always clear why someone gets sick, there are a few things about sickness we can learn from the Bible:

•Before Adam sinned, creation was perfect in every way. Sin brought sorrow, pain and death into the world; and we are a part of that imperfect world (Romans 8:22).

•At times, God has used sickness as a punishment for sin. Gehazi, a servant of Elisha got leprosy because he sinned (2 Kings 5:26-27).

•God may use someone’s sickness to bring glory to Him—often by healing the person (John 9:3).

•Our body is like a flimsy tent (2 Corinthians 5:1-3). Sometimes we get sick because our bodies have a weakness, and some people get sick because they don’t look after their bodies.

•Jesus died to bring healing. He is the One who heals our diseases (Psalm 103:3).

We cannot understand God’s ways and His purpose. However, when you are sick, you can be sure that Jesus cares for you—He feels a tender compassion for those who are sick (Matthew 14:14).

Go in peace my little brothers and sisters in Christ.

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