Everyone I know wants to be a success. But the world’s definition of success is a lot different from God’s definition. God’s Word says we achieve greatness by loving and serving. That involves respect, humility, and care about others.
In Mark 10:43-45, Jesus says, “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
The more I work with people, the more I realize that both children and adults are selfish by nature. None of us have to take a class on how to put ourselves, our wants, and desires before others. We get that on our own just fine. It’s just the opposite. We have to work at training both kids and adults to have and demonstrate a servant’s heart.
Teaching Kids to Care About Others
The only way I know to do this is to be intentional about cultivating a heart in kids to care about others. It all starts with giving them the word—God’s Word—on the subject.
Proverbs 3:3-4 says, “Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. Whatever we want kids to do, we must always start with the Word.
We build kids’ faith on a subject by giving them the Word on that subject. That way, they can line up their thoughts with God’s thoughts. On a regular basis, be sure to teach kids about God’s love for others.
First Corinthians 16:14 says to “Do everything in love!” That same book, chapter 13 verse 1 says, “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.”
You just can’t separate loving God and not loving his people. They go hand in hand. When we teach kids to care about others, we teach them the true meaning of love, “the most excellent way” (1 Corinthians 12:31).
