In this lesson, children learn that Job kept his promises to God even when life was hard, and that God sees everything we do. This lesson is for kids ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes to teach.
Big Idea
God sees what we do, what we look at, and how we treat other people, so we try to choose what is good and fair even when no one is watching.
Memory Verse
Job 31:1
“I made a covenant with my eyes, how then should I look lustfully at a young woman?
(WEB)
Have the children cover their eyes with both hands, then slowly lower their hands and open their eyes wide. Say, “Job made a promise to keep his eyes on what is good.” Let them repeat the verse while touching their eyes each time they say the word “eyes.”
The Story: Job 31 for Kids
Job was a good man who loved God very much. He had a big family, many animals, and a lot of land. But Job had lost almost everything, and his friends kept talking about his problems. Job did not want to act in a way that would bring God sorrow, so he thought carefully about his choices. He remembered the promises he had made to God, and he wanted his life to show that he was honest and kind.
Job decided to make a promise with his eyes. He said he would not look at anything that would lead his heart away from God. He also thought about the people around him. He knew that he should treat everyone fairly, whether they were rich or poor, young or old. Job said he had shared his food with the hungry, given clothes to people who had none, and helped the widows and orphans who had no one else to look after them.
Job was honest about his mistakes too. He said that if he had ever done wrong, he would be willing to take responsibility. He did not want to pretend that he was perfect. Instead, he asked God to look at his heart and see whether he had been faithful. Job said something like, “Let God weigh me on a fair scale, and let him see that I am honest.” He trusted that God knew the truth about him.
Job wanted God to hear his story. He said that if he could have someone listen to him, he would speak his heart plainly. He was not afraid to be seen, because he knew that God sees everything. Job believed that God is good and fair, and he wanted to live in a way that pleased God.
The story of Job 31 shows that Job cared about being honest in every part of his life. He did not want to hurt others, and he did not want to forget God. Job reminds us that when we keep our promises and treat people kindly, we can trust that God sees our hearts.
Read It Together
Job 31:4
Doesn’t he see my ways, and count all my steps?
(WEB)
Point out that Job knew God was always watching and counting every step he took. Ask the children what it feels like to know that someone who loves them is always near. Explain that this helps us remember that God cares about the small choices we make each day.
Job 31:16-18
16 “If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail, 17 or have eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless has not eaten of it 18 (no, from my youth he grew up with me as with a father, her I have guided from my mother’s womb)…
(WEB)
Show the children that Job cared for people who could not care for themselves, including the poor, widows, and orphans. Explain that these verses show God’s heart for people who need help. Ask how the children can help someone who has less than they do.
Job 31:31-32
31 If the men of my tent have not said, ‘Who can find one who has not been filled with his meat?’ 32 (the foreigner has not camped in the street, but I have opened my doors to the traveler)…
(WEB)
Point out that Job opened his home to travelers and strangers. Explain that welcoming others is one way we show love and kindness. Talk together about a time when someone made you feel welcome and how that felt.
Talk About It
- What did Job promise to do with his eyes, and why do you think that was important to him?
- How do you think Job felt when he thought about God seeing everything he did?
- What are some ways you can be kind to people who need help, like Job was?
- Why is it good to be honest about our mistakes instead of hiding them?
- When you are alone or no one is watching, how can you remember that God still sees you?
Activity Ideas
Eye Promise Drawing
You will need paper, crayons or markers, and a pencil. Ask each child to draw a pair of eyes in the center of the paper. Around the eyes, have them draw or write one thing they promise to look at or think about in a good way. Encourage them to share their drawing with the class and explain their promise.
Helping Hands Game
You will need a small object like a pillow or a soft ball, and some open space. Have the children stand in a circle. Pass the object around while saying, “God sees us and helps us care for others.” When the music stops or you clap your hands, the child holding the object names one way they can help someone that week. This game helps children think about kindness in an active way.
Take-Home Promise Card
You will need an index card, a marker, and a sticker if you have one. Help each child write a short promise on the card, such as “I will be kind to my brother” or “I will tell the truth.” Have them decorate the card and place it somewhere they will see it each day, like their bedroom mirror or lunch box. Encourage them to talk about their promise with a family member at dinner.
Teacher Notes
For adults, Job 31 is a chapter where Job lays out his integrity before God. He describes how he has tried to live honestly in his thoughts, his relationships, his use of wealth, and his treatment of the poor and vulnerable. He is not claiming to be sinless in a proud way, but he is asking God to examine his heart and to see whether he has truly lived faithfully. This chapter reminds us that God cares about the whole of life, including what we look at, what we value, and how we treat others.
When teaching children, avoid overstating the idea that being good always brings rewards or protects us from trouble. Job went through great suffering even though he was faithful, and the book of Job as a whole shows that God’s ways are bigger than our simple cause and effect ideas. Focus on the truth that God sees us and loves us, and that we can choose to live honestly and kindly, without promising children that good behavior will always make life easy.
A Prayer to Close
Dear God, thank you for seeing everything we do and for loving us even when no one else sees. Help us keep our eyes on what is good, to be honest in what we say, and to care for people who need our help. Thank you for being fair and kind to us every day. Amen.
