The Treasure That Lasts
Once there was a boy named Oliver, who lived in a big, beautiful house. He had all the toys he could ever want—remote-controlled cars, building blocks, video games, and more. Every day, Oliver played with his toys, but something inside him felt empty. He wondered if there was something more important than having all these things.
One day, while Oliver was out on a walk, he met an older man who always seemed happy, no matter what. Curious, Oliver asked, “Why are you always so joyful? Is it because you have many things?”
The man smiled and shook his head. “No, my joy comes from following Jesus. Do you know who He is?”
Oliver nodded. “Yes, I’ve heard of Him. But I have so many cool toys and nice things. Do I still need more?”
The man looked kindly at Oliver and said, “Once, there was a rich young man who asked Jesus the same question. Jesus told him, ‘You are missing just one thing. Go, sell all you have, give the money to the poor, and follow Me. Then you will have treasure in heaven.'”
Oliver’s eyes widened. “Give away everything? But why?”
“Jesus explained that the treasures of this world don’t last forever. Real treasure is found in loving God and helping others. When we hold on too tightly to things, it’s hard to follow Jesus with our whole heart.”
Oliver thought about this as he looked at his shoes. “But it sounds really hard to give up all my toys and things.”
“It is,” the man said. “But Jesus promised that when we give up what we have to follow Him, we receive even greater blessings—love, peace, and joy that never fade. Jesus said it’s like trying to fit a big camel through a tiny needle—it’s hard for those who love their things too much to follow Him completely. But with God’s help, everything is possible.”
Oliver smiled. He knew it would be hard, but he also knew that following Jesus and finding real joy was worth more than all the toys in the world. That night, Oliver decided to give some of his toys to kids who didn’t have any. He felt happier than ever, knowing he was following Jesus and building treasure in heaven.
A children’s story based on the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time: This story helps children understand the message from Mark 10:17-27, showing the challenge of wealth and the greater joy of following Jesus with a generous heart.