Why Didn’t an Angel Take Jesus Off The Cross?

Answer: It was God’s will for Jesus to die on the cross. Jesus could have called on thousands of angels to rescue him, but he did not do that because he was dying for us, taking the punishment for our sins.

If angels had stepped in and rescued Jesus, he would not have died, and then we would not be forgiven.

Jesus’ disciple Peter tried to stop Jesus from being arrested, but Jesus told him not to do that because it was God’s plan for him to die.

Just before Jesus died, he cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” meaning that God had left him totally alone.

No one was there to help him or comfort him, not even the angels. This was part of his suffering for our sins.

Key verses: Don’t you know that I [Jesus] could call on my Father? He could send thousands of angels to keep us safe!

And he could send them right away! But if I did this, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled? For they foretold what is happening now. (Matthew 26:53-54)

Related verses: Matthew 26:51-54; Mark 8:31; 15: 34-37

Related questions: Where were the angels when Jesus died? Why didn’t an angel take Jesus’ crown off of him? Why did an angel come to the tomb after Jesus had left?

Which Angel Is Best After God And Then Jesus?

Answer: The Bible uses the word archangel to describe one type of angel that seems to be more important than regular angels.

Only Michael is said to be an archangel, but we don’t know if he is the only one.

The Bible also refers to princes among the angels. That seems to suggest that some angels are more powerful than others.

Angels are not equal to Jesus, though. They aren’t gods, nor are they God’s buddies. Angels are created beings who obey and worship God.

Key verse: For 21 days the Evil Spirit who rules the kingdom of Persia blocked my [the angel’s] way. Then Michael, one of the top officers of the heavenly army, came to help me. So I was able to get past these spirit rulers of Persia. (Daniel 10:13)

Related verses: Daniel 10:21; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; Hebrews 1:3-13; 2:5-8; Jude 1:9

Related question: Does God have a bodyguard?

Why Are Some People Scared Of Angels?

Answer: In the Bible, we read that some people became frightened when angels appeared to them.

They were scared because they were amazed at the power and glory of the angels.

God is great and holy and awesome, and sometimes angels appear with a lot of light and noise.

That can be quite scary. Also, remember that most people have never seen an angel.

So when one appears, it is quite normal to be surprised and fearful.

Many times when angels appeared, they had to tell the people they visited not to be afraid.

God sends angels to us to help us, so we don’t need to be afraid of them..

Key verse: Then the Angel touched the meat and bread with his staff.

Fire flamed up from the rock and burned them up! And suddenly the Angel was gone! (Judges 6:21)

Related verses: 1 Chronicles 21:30; Matthew 28:2- 4; Luke 1:13, 28-30; 2:9-10; Revelation 22:8-9

How Long Does It Take To Get To Heaven From Here?

Answer: It happens in an instant. It’s like opening your eyes you’re suddenly there.

That’s because heaven isn’t a faraway place but is the place where God is. He just takes you there.

The Bible says that when Jesus comes back, he will change us “in the twinkling of an eye.”

Key verse: It will all happen in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. (1 Corinthians 15:52)

Related verses: 2 Corinthians 5:6-8; Philippians 1:21- 23; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17

Related questions: Is heaven far out in space? Where is heaven?

Can birds just fly into heaven anytime they want to? If we went high enough into the sky, would we find heaven?

Why can’t we go to heaven and just see it and then come back?

When you die, are you just dead for a few seconds and then you’re in heaven?

Does God Put Down A Ladder To Bring Us To Heaven?

Answer: God takes us to heaven as soon as we die- immediately. God doesn’t need a ladder or an airplane or anything else; we will just be there with him.

The Bible says that Jesus is preparing a place for us. Through faith in him, we can have forgiveness of sins.

Then, when it comes time for God to take us to heaven, he will do it-he will take us to live with him in his home forever.

Key verse: The Lord himself will come down from Heaven. This will happen with a mighty shout.

There will be the voice of the archangel and a trumpet of God.

The believers who are dead will be the first to rise to meet the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:16)

Related verses: Luke 16:22-31; John 14:6

Related questions: Do angels take people’s souls up to heaven? Will Jesus help me fly up?

How will Jesus get me there? How do we get to heaven? How does God get people to heaven?

Does God put down a ladder so that when people die they just climb up it into heaven?

Do angels carry me to heaven? Does God take us to heaven? Does Jesus come for you with his body?

Note to parents: This question can mean two things: (1) What method does God use to transport us to heaven? and (2) How can a person be forgiven and go to heaven?

Make sure you know which question your child means. In Jesus’ story about the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:22), he mentioned that the angels carried Lazarus to heaven.

Angels may be involved in the process.

Can Angels Die?

Answer: If angels had bodies like people do, they would die, just like people do. But angels don’t have bodies.

They’re spiritual beings, which means that they have no flesh or blood. Angels are spirits, invisible to us but still very real.

Angels aren’t born, either-they’re created. Because angels don’t have bodies, they can’t grow old and die.

But at the final judgment after the world ends, God will destroy Satan and the bad angels (see Revelation 20:11-14).

Key verse: [People] will never die again. In these ways they are like angels and are sons of God. For they are raised up in new life from the dead. (Luke 20:36)

Related questions: If angels fight, can they get hurt? Do angels take care of themselves?

Why Did An Angel Come To Mary?

Answer: An angel came to Mary to tell her God’s message-God wanted Mary to know that she would be the mother of Jesus, God’s Son.

When Mary heard the news, she was frightened, but she was also very happy.

More than anything, she wanted to obey God. And she felt very honored to be Jesus’ mother.

Key verse: God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth. (Luke 1:26)

Related verses: Luke 1:26-38

Related questions: What was the name of the angel who came to Mary? What angel came to tell the shepherds about Jesus’ birth?

Note to parents: This is a good time to let your children know that God is able to show them his plan for their lives.

God’s plan probably won’t be announced by an angel, but God will tell it to them when they seek him.

Why Was There An Angel And A Fiery Sword Guarding The Entrance To The Garden Of Eden?

Answer: An angel stood at the entrance to the Garden of Eden to keep Adam and Eve from going back in.

God had sent them out of the Garden because they had sinned. Because they disobeyed God, they would never be allowed to live in Eden again.

Key verse: God expelled [Adam]. And God placed mighty angels at the east of the Garden of Eden.

They stood with a flaming sword to guard the entrance to the Tree of Life. (Genesis 3:24)

Related verses: Numbers 22:31; 1 Chronicles 21:27- 30; Luke 4:10

Related questions: How did Satan disguise himself as a snake? Did the serpent bite?

When you’re in heaven, can you still see the angel that is guarding the entrance to Eden? Did Adam and Eve go to heaven when they died?

What Happens To My Money If The Bank Gets Robbed?

Answer: Don’t worry about your money in the bank. It’s safe. Very few banks get robbed, and most bank robbers get caught. The few thieves who get away get very little money. Also, the money in the bank is insured. The government guarantees that even if someone stole all the money in the bank, you would still get yours back.

Key verses: [Jesus said,] “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where they can be eaten by moths and get rusty, and where thieves break in and steal.

Store your treasures in heaven, where they will never become moth-eaten or rusty and where they will be safe from thieves.” (Matthew 6:19-20)

Related questions: If your money in the bank gets stolen, will the bank make it up to you? Why would you put your money in a bank when there’s so much robbery?

Note to parents: Children tend to believe horror stories, especially stories about bank robberies.

Assure your child that a bank is a safe place to put money. Because of tight security, many bank robbers take a very small percentage of the money actually in the bank.

Also remind your child that our ultimate trust is in God, not the bank. In 1929, those who trusted in American banks did suffer losses, but God did not abandon his people.

Why Do Banks Give Interest?

Answer: Interest is a small payment you get for putting your money in the bank.

The bank wants you to let it keep your money so it can loan the money to others.

To get you to do this, the bank pays you a little bit for leaving your money there. The bank pays you interest.

Why does the bank want to loan money to others? So it can make money.

The people who borrow money from the bank have to pay interest on their loans.

The more the bank has to loan, the more interest payments it can collect.

It’s OK for a bank to charge interest because that’s how it makes money.

But we should not treat our family and friends that way.

In Old Testament times, God did not allow his people to charge each other interest.

They were to loan money without charging for it.

Key verses: “You wicked servant!” the king roared. “Hard, am I? If you knew so much about me and how tough I am, why didn’t you deposit the money in the bank so I could at least get some interest on it?” (Luke 19:22-23)

Related verse: Deuteronomy 23:20

Related questions: Why is there more money in my bank account than what I put in? When we put money in banks, the bank should pay us more, shouldn’t it?

Note to parents: You can demonstrate the way interest works by giving your child money to buy candy.

Pretend you are a bank and are loaning the money to him.

He will have to pay it all back plus a penny if he pays you tomorrow, a nickel if he pays in a week, and so on.

Whoever the money belongs to gets to collect the interest.

What Are Accounts?

Answer: An account is a place to put your money in a bank. The money is set aside just for you.

An account is like a piggy bank or an envelope with your name on it at the bank. It’s a way for the bank to keep track of your money.

Your parents, friends, and many other people also have money in the bank.

The bank keeps track of each. person’s money by using accounts.

If three of your friends gave you some money to keep for them, you could keep it in three separate places.

Another way would be to write on a piece of paper how much each person had given to you.

Then you could put all the money in one place. That’s how accounts work at a bank.

All the money is put together, but the bank has a record of how much of your money they have.

Key verse: They gave Hilkiah the high priest the money that had been collected by the Levites who served as gatekeepers at the Temple of God.

The gifts were brought by people from Manasseh, Ephraim, and from all the remnant of Israel, as well as from all Judah, Benjamin, and the people of Jerusalem. (2 Chronicles 34:9)

Related verse: Proverbs 22:7

Related questions: Where does the money go? Do you need to have a bank account when you’re older?

Note to parents: You can explain that a bank account is like a piggy bank at home, except that the bank pays you and can hold a lot more.

You might even get out the Monopoly money and play “bank.” You can illustrate a lot and have fun as well.

Are There People Inside Of Angels?

Answer: People and angels are two different kinds of beings altogether.

There aren’t any people inside angels, nor do people become angels when they die.

In cartoons you may see people die and become angels, but that’s not what really happens. People have souls.

Our souls live forever as spiritual beings. In fact, here’s a cool secret: When we get to heaven, we will get to rule the angels!

Key verse: Don’t you know that we will judge the angels in Heaven? (1 Corinthians 6:3)

Related verses: Mark 12:25; Hebrews 2:5-8

Related questions: How does a person become an angel? Were angels people before they died? Will we become angels when we get into heaven?

How Many Angels Are In Heaven?

Answer: There’s a huge number. We don’t know how many angels are in heaven because the Bible doesn’t give an exact number.

But there are thousands and thousands as many as God needs.

Some people who have seen these large crowds of angels are Elisha and his servant, the shepherds at Christ’s birth, and the apostle John.

Key verse: Then I [John] heard the singing of many angels. They were surrounding the throne and the Living Beings and the Elders. (Revelation 5:11)

Related verses: 2 Kings 6: 16-17; Luke 2:13; Hebrews 12:22; Revelation 7:9-11

Related questions: How many angels are there? Does God have a sidekick angel? Does God have grandchildren in heaven?

How Did Angels Get Their Wings?

Answer: Artists often paint angels as having wings, and people have written stories that describe angels as having wings or earning their wings.

But the Bible doesn’t say that all angels have wings. It does say that angels can fly and that, at times, they appear with wings.

But angels don’t need wings to fly, like birds or butterflies do. God made sure that they can get where they need to be when they need to be there.

Key verse: As I [Daniel] prayed, Gabriel flew swiftly to me. He is the angel I had seen in the earlier vision. (Daniel 9:21)

Related verses: Isaiah 6: 1-2; Ezekiel 1:6-9, 23-24

Related questions: Why do angels fly? Do angels look the same as the ones we make in the snow?

Do angels really look like they do in pictures? Do all angels have wings? How come in pictures angels have wings?

Do angels have wings, or do they just look like men in pajamas?

How Can We Buy Things With A Check Instead Of Money?

Answer: A check is a set of instructions to the bank to pay money from a person’s account to someone else.

If you look closely at a check you will see the words Pay to the order of and then a blank line.

This line is a message to the bank; it means, “When the person named on this line asks for the amount of money written on this check, go ahead and pay the person, and take the money from my account.”

There is a place for the person who wrote the check to sign it to show that the check is real.

Checks are more convenient than cash. A check allows you to pay someone without having to go to the bank or carry a lot of money with you.

Checks are also safer than cash. If you lose cash, anyone can use it. But a check can only be cashed by the person you wrote it to.

That’s why people send checks-not cash-through the mail.

Key verses: I also said to the king, If it please Your Majesty, give me letters to the governors of the province west of the Euphrates River, instructing them to let me travel safely through their territories on my way to Judah.

And please send a letter to Asaph, the manager of the king’s forest, instructing him to give me timber. I will need it to make beams for the gates of the Temple fortress, for the city walls, and for a house for myself.

And the king granted these requests because the gracious hand of God was on me. (Nehemiah 2:7-8)

Related question: How does a checking account work?

Note to parents: Write a check the next time you give your child money. Then take your child to the bank to cash it.

How Does A Check Bounce?

Answer: The word bounce describes what happens when a person writes a check for more money than he or she has in the bank.

A check is a set of instructions to the bank that says, “Pay this amount of money to the person named on this check.”

If there’s not enough money in the account, the bank won’t follow the instructions. It won’t cash the check.

The bank says, “This person doesn’t have enough money to cover this check” and returns the check. It “bounces” back.

A check is a promise. Just as we should always keep our spoken promises, so we should always make sure we have enough money in the bank to cover the checks we write.

It is dishonest to write a check when we know we don’t have enough money to cover it.

Key verses: Who would begin construction of a building without first getting estimates and then checking to see if there is enough money to pay the bills?

Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of funds. And then how everyone would laugh at you!

They would say, “There’s the person who started that building and ran out of money before it was finished!” (Luke 14:28- 30)

Related verses: Proverbs 12:17; 16:11

Related question: Why do some stores not take checks?

Where Does All The Money In The Bank Machines Come From?

Answer: Bank workers put it there. About once a week they open the machines (called automatic teller machines, or ATMs) and put the money in.

They get the money from the bank’s safe. The bank workers put enough into the machines so whoever needs to get some from their account can do so.

Key verses: Joash gave instructions for a chest to be made and set outside the gate leading to the Temple of the Lord.

Then a proclamation was sent throughout Judah and Jerusalem, telling the people to bring to the Lord the tax that Moses, the servant of God, had required of the Israelites in the wilderness.

This pleased all the leaders and the people, and they gladly brought their money and filled the chest with it. (2 Chronicles 24:8-10)

Related verses: Proverbs 21:20, 25

Related question: Do bank machines get robbed?

Note to parents: Younger children often get the impression from watching adults use automatic teller machines that you can get money whenever you want and get as much as you want. Explain that using an ATM is like getting money out of your piggy bank.

You are getting out money that you had put in earlier. Older children can benefit from having and using an ATM card.

It can be very convenient for them and for you, and it can give them practice managing their own money.

Do Angels Grow Up?

Answer: You may have seen paintings or cartoons of “baby angels,” but those are not true pictures of angels.

Angels don’t have physical bodies, so they are never born, they never grow up, and they never die.

They don’t need to eat or drink, and they don’t outgrow their clothes.

But they can learn-they can get more knowledge than they started with.

The Bible says that angels learn from watching people (they “grow in knowledge”).

Angels are learning more and more of God’s wisdom all the time.

Key verse: [God] wanted to show all the rulers in Heaven how perfectly wise he is.

They will see the Jews and Gentiles joined together in his Church. (Ephesians 3:10)

Related verses: Matthew 22:30; 1 Peter 1:12

Related questions: Do angels live like we do today? Does God have to teach his angels to do things?

Do angels have ages? Can angels have children? Do angels take care of themselves? Does God tell them stories?

Note to parents: We associate growth with change. That is, we talk about people “growing” spiritually, mentally, and in other areas to describe the changes we see happening in them.

When children ask, “Do angels grow up?” however, they are usually referring to physical growth-aging and getting bigger, stronger, faster, etc.

Are Angels Boys Or Girls?

Answer: People are either male or female (boys or girls) because of their bodies-the way they are physically.

But angels don’t have physical bodies, so they are neither boys nor girls. (Jesus explained that angels don’t get married.)

The angels Michael and Gabriel have male names, but that doesn’t mean that they are men.

When angels visited people in human form (when Gabriel visited Mary, for example), usually it was as a man.

Key verse: For in the resurrection there is no marriage. Everyone is like the angels in Heaven. (Matthew 22:30)

Related verses: Mark 12:25; 16:5; Hebrews 1:14; 13:2

Related questions: Are there girl angels, or are they all boys? When I die, will I become an angel?

Do Angels Get Tired?

Answer: Angels never get tired, not even a little bit, and they never sleep.

They don’t need sleep like you do. Good angels are incredibly powerful and always ready to do what God tells them to do.

Angels can open locked doors, roll away huge stones, and even wipe out whole armies.

That’s because they are God’s servants, and God gives them the power they need to carry out his work.

Angels are not all- powerful, though. The book of Daniel tells of a time when Satan stopped an angel for a little while, until the archangel Michael came to help him.

But angels never get tired, weak, or sick.

And someday they will fight in the final battle against Satan and his demons–and win.

Key verse: Suddenly there was a great earthquake. For an Angel of the Lord came down from Heaven. He rolled aside the stone and sat on it. (Matthew 28:2)

Related verses: Psalm 103:20; Daniel 9:21-23; 10: 13; Acts 5:19; 2 Peter 2:11; Revelation 12:7-8

Related questions: How can angels be so strong that they were able to keep the lions’ mouths from closing?

Do angels help out other angels? Just how strong are angels? Do angels sleep?

Where Did Angels Come From?

Answer: God created everything, and that includes angels. The Bible doesn’t say, “God created angels,” nor does it mention when God created angels.

But we know he did because the Bible explains that God created everything that exists.

The Bible never says that God created dogs, for example, but we know that he did because he created all things.

We also don’t know if God created all the angels at once or if he creates them as he needs them.

Angels take orders from God and serve him. They aren’t equal with God and don’t have the same powers as God. Remember, God didn’t discover angels he created them.

Key verses: Praise [God], all his angels, all the armies of heaven…. Let everything he has made give praise to him. For he gave the command, and they came into being. (Psalm 148:2, 5)

Related verses: Nehemiah 9:6; Colossians 1: 15-16

Related questions: On which of the seven days did God create the angels? How did God discover angels?

Are angels like people except that they live in heaven? Do angels have mothers?

How did God get the idea to make angels? How were angels made? Did God make angels?

Note to parents: Try to avoid using the word angel when it is inaccurate, such as calling your child a “little angel” or saying that a person who died has become an angel.

These innocent explanations can easily confuse children.

Do Angels Have Names?

Answer: The Bible mentions two angels by name- Gabriel and Michael.

We don’t know if all angels have names, but they probably do since angels are personal beings, like people.

Even though they don’t have bodies, they have identities, just like people. But they’re not human beings.

They are God’s servants. He created them to do his work.

Remember, the only place that we can learn for sure about angels is in the Bible, God’s Word.

Key verse: “Don’t even ask my name,” the Angel replied. “For it is a secret.” (Judges 13:18)

Related verses: Daniel 8: 16; 10: 13; Luke 1: 19, 26; Jude 1:9; Revelation 12:7

Related questions: How does God remember all the angels? How come God only named two angels in the whole Bible?

Was the angel’s name beyond under- standing because it was too hard to say (Judges 13:18)?

Do Angels Have Hearts?

Answer: If you’re asking whether angels have feelings, the answer is yes.

Angels have feelings just as people do and just as God does.

Many Bible passages tell of angels rejoicing whenever someone first believes in Jesus.

Others tell of angels singing songs of gladness and praise to God.

Angels can also think. The Bible says they can tell the difference between good and evil.

Satan and his demons used to be good angels, but they chose to do evil. (More on that in question 24.)

The Bible also says that angels care about us and that they helped Jesus.

But angels don’t have real hearts because they don’t have physical bodies.

Key verse: There is joy among the angels of God when one sinner repents. (Luke 15:10)

Related verses: 2 Samuel 14:17, 20; Psalm 34:7; 91:11; Luke 2:13-14; Hebrews 12:22-23; Revelation 5:11-12

Related question: Do angels get angry?

Is It Ok To Drive My Dad’s Car For Four Seconds?

Answer: If you drive a car on a public street and don’t have a driver’s license, you are breaking the law.

If you drive a car on private property (for example, a drive-way) and don’t have a driver’s license, you are being very foolish.

This is true no matter how long you drive the car – four seconds or four hours. A car is a huge machine with a lot of power.

It can be very dangerous to you and to others. That’s why people have to be trained to drive and why they have to pass a driving test to get a license.

Key verse: Be very sure to follow all the laws written in the book of Moses. Do not disobey them the least little bit. (Joshua 23:6)

Related verse: James 2: 10

Note to parents: This kind of question may arise out of a child’s judgment that it’s OK to obey only the letter of the law.

Also, some kids will try to see whether a rule can be broken under any circumstances at all, so that they can, then expand the rule breaking into further territory.

If It’s OK to drive the car for four seconds, isn’t it OK to drive it for eight seconds?

What If I Told A Lie And Didn’t Know It Was A Lie Is It Still A Lie?

Answer: To pass on information that you think is true but really isn’t, is not lying.

But what you say can be wrong and can hurt somebody.

That’s why it is so important to check out the facts to see if something is true, especially if the information sounds fishy or you’re not very sure.

Suppose you heard from a friend that the school concert would begin at 8:00, but it really is going to begin at 7:30.

It would be good to find out for sure before telling your parents about the concert. Just think how they would feel if they showed up half an hour late.

Beware of talking too much. Being slow to speak will help you avoid getting into trouble with your words.

It’s to your own benefit for people to know that they can rely on what you say.

And if you are afraid that you lied without knowing it, tell God about it. He will forgive you.

Key verse: Dear brothers, remember this! It is best to listen much, speak little, and not become angry. (James 1:19)

Related verses: Proverbs 14:3; 17:28; 18:21; 29:20; Ecclesiastes 5:2; Colossians 4:6; Hebrews 10:24

Note to parents: Help your children learn to say “I don’t know” or “I’m not sure” if they don’t have all the facts.

For example, “I’m not sure, but I think it starts at 8:00” is better than “It starts at 8:00.”

Tell your children that it’s OK not to be certain. Then they will be less likely to pass on incorrect information to you or others.

Why Do Some White And Black People Hate Each Other?

Answer: Hate is another problem caused by sin in the world. People get angry and hate others for many reasons.

They may be upset over something a person said or did-they may feel insulted or hurt.

They may be bitter about what a person’s relatives did in the past. But hate is wrong.

God tells us to love, not hate. If someone hurts us, we should forgive that person and try to fix the relationship.

Some people hate others for very silly reasons. They may not like another person’s religion, nationality, neighborhood, school, or skin color.

For a long time, many white people have hated black people just because they are black.

And many black people have hated white people just because they are white.

And people have been mean and cruel to other kinds of people, too, such as Hispanics, and Japanese or Irish people.

That is not God’s way. God’s way is for all kinds of people to live together, to work together, and to worship together.

We should show love and respect to all people, no matter how different they are from us

Key verse: We are no longer Jews or Gentiles. We are no longer slaves or free men.

We are not even men or women. We are all the same, we are Christians. We are one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:28)

Related verses: Colossians 3:11-14; James 2:14-17; 1 John 4:20-21; Revelation 7:9; 20:11-15

Note to parents: Watch your own words and actions. Go out of your way to have positive relationships with people who differ from you.

Show your child by word and example how to treat all people with equal respect.

If I See Someone Who Is Poor, Do I Have To Give That Person Money?

Answer: There are a lot of poor people in the world. Many people beg for money so that they can buy food.

It makes us sad to see people beg, and we wish we could help everybody. Sometimes we walk by many people who are asking for money.

Obviously we can’t give money to every poor person. If we did that, we would run out of money very soon and be poor ourselves.

But we can and should help some poor people. We can help people in the neighborhood by working around their homes and giving them food.

We can give money to our churches and Christian organizations to help poor people in our community and around the world.

We can give our time at a local mission. God wants us to be loving and kind to people.

He wants us to show his love to widows, prisoners, the poor, and the hungry.

When we help poor people, we are acting like Jesus.

Key verse: There will always be some among you who are poor. That is why this command is needed. You must lend to them as they have’ need. (Deuteronomy 15:11)

Related verses: Exodus 23: 10-11; Leviticus 25:35; Amos 8:4-6; Matthew 25:34-40; Luke 4: 18; James 2:2-6

Related questions: Is it OK to pray for toys and things? Why should I give money to God?

Note to parents: There are small ways you can foster a sharing attitude at home.

Also, you can find ways to give as a family. You can donate clothes, furniture, time, or other resources to ministries that serve the poor.

And when you have things that are useful and in good condition that you no longer need, don’t sell the good stuff and give away junk; that’s convenience, not compassion.

Is It Wrong To Spread Rumors?

Answer: A rumor (or gossip) is a story about someone or something that everybody talks about without really knowing whether it’s true or not.

Sometimes rumors are totally false, but they are spread because somebody got the wrong information.

Sometimes rumors are deliberate lies, spread to hurt someone.

Sometimes rumors are partially true, but they don’t tell the whole story.

Even if a story started out to be true, after a few people tell it, it usually gets changed and is only partly true.

Rumors almost always do much more harm than good.

If you hear a bad story about someone, don’t just pass it on. First, try to find out whether it is true or not.

If you find out that the story is true, you have two good choices: (1) You can drop it and forget the whole thing, or (2) you can talk to the person that the story is about and try to help.

God wants us to be loving and kind to others. Passing along gossip, spreading rumors, is not loving or kind.

Key verse: An evil person plants trouble. Gossip pulls the best of friends apart. (Proverbs 16:28)

Related verses: Proverbs 20:19; 2 Corinthians 12:20

Related question: Why is it wrong to gossip?

Note to parents: Remember that your child learns from the way you talk about others.

Make an effort not to confuse facts with guesses in your discussions about other people.