Jealousy

This week’s Brite lesson helps kids recognize jealousy and how it can affect the way we treat others. As they learn about the Pharisees becoming angry over the attention Jesus received, kids are seeing how jealousy can grow when we compare ourselves to someone else.

Kids may feel jealous when a friend gets something they wanted, receives more attention, or seems better at something than they are. Those feelings may come out as unkind words, hurt feelings, or trying to get attention. This week, we’re reminding kids that their value doesn’t come from being better than someone else. God knows them, loves them and made them who they are.

This week, ask your kid if they have ever felt jealous of someone. Talk about what made them feel that way and remind them that they can thank God for the good things He has given them while also celebrating what He is doing in someone else’s life.

Here’s how we discussed this topic and how you can discuss it at home: 

Discuss: Tell about a time that you were jealous.

Discuss: How do kids act sometimes when they feel jealous?

Discuss: What do you think God has to say about that?

Say: We all feel jealous sometimes. Maybe a sibling gets something we want or a friend at school is more popular than we are. Sometimes being online can spark jealousy too, as we see what other people have. Jealousy is a normal feeling, but the problem comes in how long we let it stay in our hearts and in how we react to it. Proverbs 14:30 says: A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot. When our jealousy causes us to be unkind to others or to be ungrateful for what God has given us, it is a problem. When we feel jealousy, we can pause and confess to God what we are feeling. We can thank Him for the many gifts He has given us. We can even thank Him for the person we are jealous of! We can ask for His help in keeping jealousy out of our hearts.