This lesson teaches children that God loves honesty, kindness, and listening to wise advice, even when it is hard. It works well for ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes.
Big Idea
God wants us to tell the truth, be kind to people who need help, and listen when someone wise tries to teach us. Choosing these things pleases God and makes us wiser.
Memory Verse
Proverbs 19:1
Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than he who is perverse in his lips and is a fool.
(WEB)
Have the children stand tall with their hands on their hearts, then slowly open their arms wide like a book. Say the verse together while they hold the book pose, and repeat it three times, getting a little quieter each time.
The Story: Proverbs 19 for Kids
Long ago, King Solomon wrote a book full of wise sayings to help people learn how to live well. In Proverbs 19, he talked about many choices that everyone makes every day. Some choices lead to a happy and good life, and some lead to trouble.
He taught that it is better to be poor and honest than to be rich and full of lies. A person who tells lies will not go free from the trouble those lies cause. Lies can hurt friends and family, and they always come back to the one who told them.
Solomon also said that when someone is kind to the poor, that kindness is like lending money to God, and God promises to repay it. He said that a wise person listens to advice and accepts correction. He compared a king’s anger to a roaring lion, but a king’s kindness to fresh dew on the grass, soft and refreshing.
Solomon warned about being lazy. He said that a lazy person sleeps too much and goes hungry because he will not work. He said a sluggard is so tired of working that he will not even lift his hand to his own mouth. Working hard and being diligent brings good things.
Finally, Solomon reminded parents and children that listening to instruction is important. He said that a child who stops listening to wise teaching will wander away from the truth. The chapter ends by showing that wisdom protects us and that the fear of the LORD leads to life and peace.
Read It Together
Proverbs 19:5
A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who pours out lies shall not go free.
(WEB)
Point out that telling lies never keeps a person safe in the end. Ask the children to notice the word “shall” and explain that it means something will certainly happen. Help them see that honesty is the path God blesses.
Proverbs 19:17
He who has pity on the poor lends to the LORD; he will reward him.
(WEB)
Show the children that helping someone poor is like doing something for God himself. Explain that God notices our small acts of kindness and promises to reward them. Give an example of a simple kind act they could do this week.
Proverbs 19:20
Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter end.
(WEB)
Point out the two actions here: listening and receiving. Explain that wise people do both, even when someone is correcting them. Ask the children to think of someone who helps them learn and how they can thank that person.
Talk About It
- What is one thing you can do this week to show kindness to someone who needs help?
- Why do you think telling the truth is hard sometimes, and what helps you do it anyway?
- How does it feel when someone lies to you, and why does God want us to be honest?
- What is a time when you did not want to listen to advice, and what happened afterward?
- Who are the wise people in your life who help you learn and grow?
Activity Ideas
Wisdom Book Craft
You will need paper, crayons or markers, and a stapler. Fold several sheets in half, staple them to make a small booklet, and let each child draw one way they can show honesty, kindness, or listening on each page. Encourage them to explain their pictures to you as they finish.
Honest Helper Relay
Set up two cups at one end of the room and a pile of soft balls at the other. Divide the children into two teams and have them carry balls one at a time to fill the cup, racing to be fast but also careful. Afterward, talk about how being careful and patient, like being honest and wise, helps us do good work.
Kindness Reminder Card
Give each child an index card or a small piece of cardstock and a pencil. Have them write or draw one kind act they will do at home this week, then tape the card to the refrigerator or their bedroom door. Encourage families to check in together during the week about how the kind act went.
Teacher Notes
For adults, Proverbs 19 shows that wisdom is a way of living that touches every part of life, including speech, money, work, family, and our response to God. The chapter links honesty and kindness with the fear of the LORD, teaching that how we treat others reflects how we honor God. Adults can see in these sayings both warnings and invitations to a steady, humble life.
When teaching children, avoid promising that every honest person will always be rewarded with money or a comfortable life, because the proverbs speak in general patterns rather than guarantees. Instead, emphasize that God loves truth and kindness and that choosing them brings peace and blessing over time. Be careful not to make wealth or poverty a measure of goodness.
A Prayer to Close
Lord, thank you for giving us wise words to help us live well. Help us tell the truth, be kind to people who need help, and listen when others teach us. Give us hearts that love you and want to follow your ways. Amen.
