At the beginning of our lesson, we talked about a mega mansion. Many of us admitted that we wouldn’t mind getting our hands on of the cash it would take to own that mansion.

But remember, a luxury mansion may be only a dream, but when we put stuff ahead of God, we’re prioritizing things that we can’t keep over the one thing we can’t lose.

• What’s one way that we can remind ourselves God is far more important than our stuff? (You may need to “prime the pump” with a few simple examples like reading the Bible’s teachings about wealth, praying for a God-pleasing attitude about possessions, or looking at pictures of people in third world countries who have nothing. If your students don’t think of it themselves, be sure to suggest that giving may be the most powerful way to put God first, because it’s a tangible reminder for us that all of our stuff really belongs to Him.)

Ask students to get out their index card and pen or pencil. Or, hand them out if you are teaching in a physical classroom. We’ve just talked about how giving money or stuff away can be one way to keep God first. Why? Because God gave us that money or stuff! Sure, you may have worked to earn it. But you didn’t create the earth and everything on it out of nothing. You didn’t make the atoms in your smartphone from scratch. That was all God.

So let’s consider doing an accountability check as we wrap up our lesson today. But this challenge is . . . well, challenging.

Let’s think about our most prized possession—something we just do not want to do without. The more we care about the item we pick, the better. Why? Because it will do a better job of reminding us that we need to put God before our stuff.

• What’s the one possession you care about more than any other? (Allow your students to share. Be sure to let them know which possession you will be nominating yourself in this challenge.)

After your students have had time to write their most prized possession on the index card, explain. Here’s your challenge. After our lesson today, give your parents or someone else in charge this index card. Tell them what we talked about today and how you want to keep God first. Ask them to keep you accountable by having them trade the card for the object listed on it any day this week. They must do it randomly and without warning. For one solid, 24-hour day of their choice, you will have to do without that item. Guess what? If you can’t do it, then you will know that it has first place in your life, and you need to adjust accordingly. Tell your students that you will be taking the challenge this week too and be sure to follow through. 

Close in prayer: God, thanks for all of the possessions You’ve given to us. We know that all of them are gifts from You. Today, we’ve chosen to make a small sacrifice to help keep You number one in our lives. We ask that this challenge will remind us to keep You in first place. We thank You that even if we lose everything else—money, stuff, whatever—we can never lose You. Thanks for being a faithful God who will love us all the way to heaven. In the name of Jesus, amen.

Take time this week to text students and check how they are doing with their challenge. Be ready to encourage them—especially if they are struggling to give something up. Sharing your challenge progress and any of your struggles to put God first may be helpful