RELATIONAL VIRTUE GROUP

Because I value others as those whom Christ created and redeemed, I choose to treat them as I would like to be treated.

 

How To Treat People

Trustworthiness

God knows the secrets of my life, good and bad. Because He loves me, He will not use His knowledge to hurt me by telling others. He respects my privacy. I can trust Him.

 

I choose to be trustworthy in how I treat others.

 

Definition

Trustworthiness related virtues: Confidentiality, dependable, stability, reliability, faithfulness, perseverance, steadiness.

Trustworthiness means: Doing what is right even when it might be easier to do something else .
Standing for your beliefs even under criticism and persecution when it isn’t easy.
Refusing to spread rumors, and to act in a manner that makes one worthy of confidence and trust. God is the most faithful. He never fails in his care for us. He is always fair and trustworthy.
Confidentiality means: Keeping a secret, respect for privacy.
Dependable means: Faithfulness in completing a task on time
Stability means: Behaving in a friendly and sincere way to all people.
Reliability means: Honoring your commitments.

 
Artwork Music

See flipchart

Click the picture below:

 

 

Do your Best, MV Songs, p. 84
Gentle Jesus Meek and Mild, SDAH 540
Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus, SDAH 524
Under His Wings, SDAH 529
Day by Day, SDAH 532
Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father..There is no shadow of turning..

Student Life Applications

1. Youth going to church with family while friends are playing
2. Student with a pile of books with Bible on top, friends pointing making fun of it
3. Student bowing his head at lunch in school cafeteria, others are throwing paper at him
4. Student in classroom, on the board is written “dinosaur 300 million year”, and on his desk is an open book with a picture of Noah’s ark
5. Student sitting with notepad “My budget” is at the top, then listed is “tithe 10%, clothes 2%, transportation 1%,” etc.
6. Student sharing gospel pamphlet at school. The pamphlet will show: “God’s Saving Grace” or it could say:
“Bible explains Dinosaurs”
7. Students are gossiping in whispers while another student looks on sadly
8. Students are talking and pointing at another student who is reading a book
9. Father and son share the secret as they hold a gift beside a calendar marked “Mother’s Birthday”.
10. Student at work in the office is holding card that says “Grade Card.” She works on it without sharing it with anyone
11. Returning a library book on time.
12. Giving money you have found to the Lost and Found office
 

Bible, E.G. White

Proverbs 28:20 A faithful man will be richly blessed,
Matthew 25:23 Well done, good and faithful serviant, thou has been faithful over a few thingsRevelation 2:10 Be faithful, even to the point of death.

“Oh, how many lives are made bitter by the breaking down of the walls which enclose the privacies of every family and which are calculated to preserve its purity and sanctity!" 2T 462
“A common meeting to worship God is not the place to open the privacies of the heart.” RH.1871-05-30. 4
“Faithfulness is as essential in life's common duties as in those involving greater responsibility.” 4T 590
“The Master prizes goodness and faithfulness above all else.” GW 267
“Through the faithfulness of His children, God was glorified in all the earth.” PK 511
“It is the faithfulness, the loyalty to God, the loving service, that wins the divine approval. . . and in the day of God .
. . will be commended.” COL 361
“Unjust advantage is often taken of what I say even in the most confidential manner..” 5T 46
“Mutual love and confidence must be encouraged and strengthened in the members of the church. Let all, in the fear
of God and with love to their brethren, close their ears to gossip and censure.” 5T610

Reinforcing Stories

Scottish dog of Edinborough that stayed for years on master’s grave.
Uncle Arthur's Bedtime Stories, by Arthur S. Maxwell, R&H
The Children's Hour, by Arthur S. Maxwell, R&H
"Secret Missions", "The Case of the Mysterious Place", "First in Line", Book Two, Great Stories for Kids, by Jerry Thomas
"The King of Lightning", Book Three, Great Stories for Kids, by Jerry Thomas
"Trouble on a Two-Way Street", Book Four, Great Stories for Kids, by Jerry Thomas
"Stolen Property", "Faithfulness Unto Persecution", Treasury of Devotional Aids for Home and School
February 10, March 8, April 30, September 2, Sure as the Dawn by Mansell and Mansell

 

Student Activities

1. Give each student a coin to look at both sides. Trustworthiness is a two-sided coin. We want to find trustworthy friends but we must also be trustworthy for them.
2. Trust Walk: Take turns leading a blindfolded friend through an obstacle course using verbal directions.
3. Read the story, My Side of the Mountain. Identify two characters (one trustworthy and one one) and write their names on the top of your paper. List six or more attributes under each name that explain why one character is trustworthy and the other is not.
4. Design a collage of photographs and drawing that illustrates trustworthy people in your life. Write each person's name next to his/her picture. Add a sentence explaining why you trust that person. Hang the finished product up in the class art gallery.
 

Links to the Curriculum
Biology: Many animals share the forest and communicate. Jesus wanted Jews to communicate God's love to the Gentiles.
English and Language Arts: Verbs change tense but God is always the same.
Science: Ants are known for perseverance, we also need to be faithful to our task.
Social Studies: Many religions show much diversity. One God never changes.
 

Resources


Uncle Arthur's Bedtime Stories, by Arthur S. Maxwell, R&H, 1964
The Children's Hour, by Arthur S. Maxwell, R&H, 1945
Great Stories for Kids, by Jerry Thomas, PPPA, 1999
Treasury for Devotional Aids for Home and School by Department of Education of General Conference of SDA, 1951
Sure as the Dawn by Mansell and Mansell. R&H, 1993

 

Evaluation

Primary:
Tell or write two ways that show that God is trustworthy.
Tell or write about a time when you saw someone show trustworthiness.
Tell or write about when you showed trustworthiness like God would do.
Tell or write about when you saw the hurt and unhappiness when someone was not trustworthy:
How do you think God feels when He sees people who are trustworthy?
How do you feel when you are trustworthy?
Tell two ways that you can show trustworthiness.
What makes you want to be trustworthy?
What is the opposite of trustworthiness? Who makes us act that way?
Finish the sentence: We can be trustworthy when we..........

Middle:
Why does God care if I am trustworthy?
What difference does it make whether I am trustworthy or not?
What effect would it have on my future if I did not choose to be trustworthy?
How would people treat me differently if I did or didn’t choose to be trustworthy?
How would I feel about myself if I did or did not choose to be trustworthy?
Give some reasons why you think it is best to be trustworthy. Why would someone do differently?
What makes choosing to be trustworthy better than the opposite?
List some ways that a person might be trustworthy without anyone noticing?
List 3 situations where a person could be trustworthy in his work, home, or at the shopping mall.
Is it possible for a person to get better at being trustworthy? Explain.
Can you think of someone who seems good at being trustworthy? What makes them better at it?
How could you learn to be better at being trustworthy?
How often do you show trustworthiness? Think of the last three times and tell me.
Do you like to join in when people are being trustworthy? How have you joined in?

High school:
Would you practice trustworthiness if no one was checking on you? Your parents, school, or the law?
What is the alternative to trustworthiness and what do you see as the results of that choice?
Would you recognize it if someone was not fully trustworthy? How?
Would you keep quiet if someone paid you a lot of money not to be trustworthy?
Are you proud to be trustworthy and willing to tell others how you feel?
If someone in a group spoke out against trustworthiness would you speak up to give the other side?
Are you willing to put some money toward supporting trustworthiness in your city, class, work?
Can you say that being trustworthy has become a habit? How often are you that way?
What effect do you think trustworthiness will have on your future life?
Do you see your family practicing trustworthiness toward others? How about your church, city, or nation?
What do you think should be done to promote trustworthiness in your family, friends, church, city, nation?
Does it make much difference if they are trustworthy or not?