Children’s Sermon

Luke 16:19-31

Caring for Each Other

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Luke 16:19-31
Caring for Each Other

By Lois Parker Edstrom

Object suggested: Bowling ball

Pictures of elephants available at:
https://www.google.com/#q=pictures+of+elephants

Have you ever visited a zoo and seen an elephant? If you have, you know that elephants are very large. An elephant’s tooth can weigh eleven pounds, about the weight of a bowling ball. Wild elephants live in herds. The oldest female elephant in the group becomes the leader of the herd. Elephants look out and care for each other. When a baby elephant is born its mother picks another female elephant to act as an auntie to help look after the baby. The auntie takes care of the baby if the mother is unable to care for the baby herself.

A member of the herd who becomes ill is cared for by the other elephants until it is well. If a lion approaches, that could harm a sick or young elephant, the leader of the herd faces the lion and the other adult elephants gather to the front and follow her. Young and sick elephants stay in the back where they will be protected by the rest of the herd. As you can see, elephants care for one another.

There is a story in the Bible about a rich man who had much, but ignored a poor, sick, hungry man who lay at his gate. He did not offer to care for the sick man or even give him food or a place to rest. God dealt very harshly with the rich man who refused to care for the man who needed help.

The lesson of this Bible story is that we should care for one another, especially those who are less fortunate and have greater needs. Elephants, which are such beautiful, intelligent animals, take care of each other. Thinking about elephants can remind us to care for people who need our help.

Scripture quotations from the World English Bible

Copyright 2011, Richard Niell Donovan