presents
the "Let's Talk About" series
presents
Let's talk about BEING MESSY.
The Bible says: "Be sure that everything is done properly and in a good and orderly way." (1 Corinthians 14:40)
You are being messy when you
spill food on your clothes, or
drop food on the furniture or floor.
You are being messy when you
walk into clean areas with dirty feet,
touch furniture or walls with dirty hands, or
sit on furniture while wearing dirty clothes.
You are being messy when you
do not put your trash in trash cans, or
do not put your garbage in garbage disposals or containers.
You are being messy when you
do not put things away after you use them,
do not put things where they belong, or
do not put things away neatly.
You can make a mess with things such as crayons, paints, ink pens, clay, or glue. You are being messy when you get these things on your clothes or your surroundings.
A mess can be displeasing.
Most people enjoy cleanliness, order, and beauty. A mess is not clean. It is not orderly. It is not beautiful. A mess does not make people happy. It usually makes them unhappy.
A mess can be frustrating. It is upsetting when you cannot find something you want or need. It is hard to find something when
there is so much clutter you cannot see where things are, or
something is not where it is supposed to be.
A mess can be destructive.
Your clothes and surroundings can be ruined by messy stains.
Things that are left out can be damaged accidentally.
Things that are not put away carefully can be ruined.
A mess can be dangerous.
People can slip and possibly fall because of messy spills.
People can trip over things that are out of place.
Messes can be
displeasing
frustrating
destructive
dangerous
This is why you should not be messy.
Many accidents become messes. You can avoid accidental messes by being careful.
There are other things you can do to avoid messes.
To avoid a mess:
Cover yourself before you eat or do a project that might be messy. Put something like a napkin, apron, or smock over your clothes.
Cover the area in which you plan to work. Put something like newspapers, an old sheet, or a tablecloth on the furniture or floor.
To avoid a mess:
Keep yourself and your clothes as clean as possible.
Wash your dirty hands before you touch clean things.
Get the dirt, mud, or sand off your feet before you walk into a clean area.
To avoid a mess:
Do not litter. Put your trash in a trash can and your garbage in a garbage disposal or container.
Put things away. Put things where they belong after you use them. Put things away neatly.
You and the people around you will be happier if you avoid being messy.
A Bible character who cleaned up a MESS
Long ago a little prince was raised by a priest because his family had all died. The prince's name was Joash and he lived in Jerusalem.
In the city of Jerusalem there was a great temple for the worship of God. It used to be a beautiful building but now it had become a mess. Often as Joash and the priest walked about the Temple buildings together Joash would say, “Why is the Temple not looked after? Why is this broken pillar not mended, and this door left lying on the ground?”
Then the priest would sadly say, "The people do not care about God’s House now. No one will help to mend the broken walls and pillars." And Joash replied, “When I grow up I will clean up the mess in God’s House and make it beautiful again.”
Then the day came when the priest called the people together and before them all little prince Joash was crowned King of Judah.
The young King Joash went back to the palace to live, but he never forgot his promise to clean up the mess in the Temple. So as soon as he was able, he commanded workers to repair the broken places, make new doors and produce beautiful furnishings.
When everything had been cleaned up nicely, King Joash called all the people to come and see the beautiful Temple. When they saw what Joash had done they shouted for joy and sang together their praises to God.
(For a longer version of this story, see "Know Your Bible" series 4 lesson 6. Also see 2 Chronicles 24.)
