Proverbs 29
Explanation and Bible story for toddlers and preschoolers (ages 3-6)
The Explanation
Listen. King Solomon was very wise. He was so wise that God helped him. And Solomon wrote down lots of little sentences. Little sentences to help you live well.
One of those sentences goes like this. If you get angry very quickly, that is not good. Then you say things that hurt. But if you stay calm, you are wise.
And another sentence. When you brag a lot, you think, I am the greatest! But then you fall down. Just like a tower of blocks that is too high. Boom. But if you are small and sweet, then God makes you big.
There is also a sentence about being scared. Sometimes children are scared of what other kids say. They think, will they still play with me? That is a scary feeling. But Solomon says, do not be too scared of other people. Hold on tight to God. Then you are safe. Like a little bird in a warm nest.
What Does This Mean?
God knows exactly how a child works. He knows that you sometimes get angry. Very angry. Stomping feet and slamming doors angry. He also knows that you sometimes think, look at me, I can do it! And He knows that you are sometimes scared.
And God says, come to me. I will help you. I make your angry heart calm. I catch you when you fall. I hold you when you are scared.
The Common Thread
Do you know who was the very best at this? Jesus. Jesus never got angry the wrong way. Jesus never bragged. Jesus was never too scared of other people. Jesus always did what His Father in heaven asked.
And Jesus says, come along with me. I will show you how it works. Hold my hand. Then you will learn it too, bit by bit.
Because that is the big story. God loves children. He sent Jesus. And Jesus takes you by the hand.
For You
Do you sometimes get angry? Very angry? Then you can take a deep breath. In. And out. And you can whisper, Jesus, help me.
Do you sometimes think, look at me, I am the best? Then look at another child. Maybe that child needs a hug. Or a turn.
And are you scared? Really scared? Then close your eyes. God is right beside you. Always. Even in the dark.
Talk About It
When was the last time you were really, really angry? What happened?
What do you do when you are scared? Do you know that God is with you?
Praying Together
Dear God,
You are so good.
Sometimes I am angry.
Sometimes I am scared.
Sometimes I want to be the biggest.
Will you help me?
Hold my hand tight.
Just like Jesus.
Amen.
Questions about Proverbs 29
Short answers for anyone reading about this for the first time.
What is Proverbs 29 about?
What does Proverbs 29 say?
What does Proverbs 29 teach us about God?
What can toddlers learn from Proverbs 29?
Why is Proverbs 29 an important Bible story?
What others discovered
An unjust man detests the righteous, and those who are upright in their ways detest the wicked." Two lives that cannot sit comfortably together. So when your honesty makes a room go quiet, don't rush to apologize for it. But ask the harder question too: what still looks attractive to me that God calls wicked?
The fear of man proves to be a snare, but whoever puts his trust in Yahweh is kept safe." A snare is hidden. Nobody walks toward one on purpose. That is how this fear works in you. It rarely feels like fear. It feels like keeping the peace, being kind, not making things awkward. Then one day you notice you cannot move.
The king by justice makes the land stable, but he who takes bribes destroys it." A bribe looks so small beside a whole country. Yet justice bent even slightly for private gain cracks the ground everyone stands on. You rule something too, a home, a classroom, a team. Do the people under you know you cannot be bought?
The poor man and the oppressor have this in common: Yahweh is the maker of them both." The one who crushes you draws his next breath from the same hand that formed you. That is unsettling and steadying at once. Your worth was never set by what he took, and his power was never his own.
Looking for something for slightly older children?
We also have dedicated versions for elementary age (7-12) and teens (12 and up).
Open in the Children's Bible tool
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