Adult Object Lesson: Mark 10:17-31 • October 14

Occasions for Prayer

Today’s objects are a checkbook and a pen, but keep them hidden.

Ask your congregations to name some occasions when they routinely pray.

You’ll get answers like

  • when someone is sick
  • before we eat
  • when I wake up
  • when I go to bed
  • when I’m scared
  • in church
  • with my children
  • on the fourth down

When ideas die down, pull out the check book and your pen. Start to write but stop quickly.

Point out that the answer to many of their prayers involve their checkbooks. They write checks to pay for groceries and doctors, etc. Even sports teams try to solve their problems by offering attractive salaries.

Yet how many of us pray before we write a check?

Now refer to the lectionary reading about the man who came to Jesus on his knees. He was a good man by any measure. But something was missing. Jesus reminded him to keep the commandments. This man had checked everything on that list. Been there; done that!

On top of his impeccable values, he was a man of means. He could buy his way out of any problem. But he still felt lost.

But Jesus pointed out to him that the blessings of riches mean nothing if they cannot be shared with others who are equally important to God. Wealth has a way of stealing our attention from the reasons God put us here on earth—to be part of community. We are lost when we are separated from community.

This alienation had brought the rich, youn man to his knees. He longed to be closer to God. But to get closer to God he had to rebuild his relationships with the people around him. That meant giving up what separated him from others in God’s creation.

Turn back to your checkbook. You might get down on your knees at this point.

Suggest that each time they reach for their checkbook (or even their credit card), they offer a prayer just as they would before taking a bite to eat.

  • Pray for wise decisions with money.
  • Pray that your wealth is a tool for good.
  • Pray with thanksgiving that God has blessed you with the ability to decide how to use your wealth.

Make prayer about your spending a habit. And remember to think of others!

photo credit: ThinkingCouch via photopin cc