For Kids · 3 min with a grown-up
God showed Amos a basket of ripe fruit. It looked yummy — but it had an important message inside it.
Today's Story
God held up a basket of ripe summer fruit. “Amos, what do you see?” He asked.
“A basket of ripe fruit,” said Amos.
When fruit is ripe, it is ready — it is time. God was saying it was time for things to change.
You see, some of the sellers in the market were not being fair. When poor people came to buy food, the sellers used crooked scales. They made the bag of grain a teeny bit smaller, and they charged a teeny bit more. They tipped the scale so it lied. They were tricking people who did not have much, just to grab extra coins for themselves.
And they grumbled when it was a rest day, because they could not sell and make money. Their hearts were not on helping people. Their hearts were only on getting more, more, more.
God sees every scale and every coin. He said, “I have not forgotten one thing you have done.” God loves the poor and the small. He wants every person treated fairly — full bags, honest measures, and kind hearts.
A Big Word
Talk About It
- Has anyone ever been unfair to you, or not given you your fair turn? How did that feel?
- The sellers made things smaller and charged more to trick people. Why do you think God cares so much when someone cheats a person who is poor?
- What is one way you could be extra fair and honest tomorrow — maybe sharing evenly or telling the whole truth?