Labeled

Introduction
It's not the clothes we wear, the house we live in, the cars we drive, or names and titles people give us that determine our identity or our value as a person. It's what's inside us that counts.

Description
We often identify things by labels. But are labels the best method for identification? Youth / children will learn that labels are not always correct.

Materials
Three similar sized canned food items but with different contents. Preferably, use two that youth or children would enjoy and another that they may not appreciate much (i.e. something like canned peaches, applesauce and dog food)

Preparation
Carefully remove the labels from the cans and swap the labels and glue them on. Trim the labels to fit if needed.

Demonstration
I brought something today I think you will enjoy - Do you like peaches? I love peaches! Is there anyone here who doesn't like peaches? What happens if I don't like peaches? Maybe I like applesauce instead. Take the applesauce label and put it onto the same can. Great! Now I can have applesauce. Anyone want some applesauce with me? What? You mean we can't just change the label? Why not? It says applesauce. Oh, well... let's have some peaches then.... anyone want some peaches. Open the can of dogfood. Oops... this is not peaches. This is dogfood.... Looks like sometimes labels can be wrong.

Discussion
It doesn't matter what label we put on the can. It doesn't change what is inside. It's not the label that's important, but what's inside that counts.

Sometimes we think that if we wear certain clothes, live is a certain kind of house or go to school in a certain type of car that will change us into something that others like more. But its not the things on the outside that count.

Sometimes someone might label us as stupid, as a nerd, a loser or some other name. But those names don't change our identity. We are still the same person on the inside.

I can use the can as a hammer, or a football, or as a paperweight. But that doesn't change the fact that it is a can that was created with something unique inside.

In fact, to God, everyone of us is special. Everyone of us is beautiful. He loves everyone of us! It's what's in your heart that counts.

Closing Applications

• Do you call others names, give them labels? Do you judge others by what is on the outside or do you look at who they really are?
• Do you try to impress others with the clothes you wear, by the things you say, with the things you own? Instead of trying to impress others with things that are on the outside, why not impress them with what you are on the inside.... by being loving, kind, caring.
• A peach is a fruit, but for us as Christians, God identifies us by different fruits that we have in our heart.... these are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self control. Make a commitment to bless others this week with one of these fruits of the spirit.

Scripture Reference

• "The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." (1 Sam. 16:7)
• Galatians 5:22 (Fruits of the Spirit)