Just a Little Bit More?
A reflection upon greed
by Becky May
Suitable for Key Stage 2
Aims
To consider what we mean by greed, and how we can resist it.
Preparation and materials
- Have available the YouTube video ‘Please, sir, I want some more’ from the film Oliver! and the means to show it during the assembly. It is 3.10 minutes long and is available at: https://youtu.be/FYCu9-r6B8E
Assembly
- Welcome the children to the assembly and ask them, ‘How much is enough?’
Pause for a moment before explaining that you will return to this question later. - Ask if any of the children have read Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens, or seen the film or musical adaptation, Oliver!
Show the YouTube video ‘Please, sir, I want some more’ (3.10 minutes long). - Ask the children why they think Oliver asked for more. Was he being greedy?
Acknowledge the fact that Oliver and the other boys in the scene were orphans who were being poorly cared for. They were very hungry! - Ask the children if they noticed the food on the table in the governors’ room, or the size of the men in that room: did they look like they were hungry? What was going on here?
Listen to a range of responses. - Explain that while the boys in this scene were all hungry, those who were supposed to be looking after them were enjoying a good life, living off their greed.
- Now, repeat the question that you asked at the beginning of the assembly: ‘How much is enough?’
Explain that the answer to this question is often, ‘Just a little bit more!’ No matter how much we have, we often feel like we still need or want just a little bit more. - Give the children some examples of this kind of greed.
- Imagine being given a plateful of pizza. Would that be enough – or would we want a little bit more?
- If we were given our pocket money for the week, would that be enough – or would we want a little bit more?
- What about Christmas? If we received three things that were on our wish list, would that be enough – or would we want a little bit more?
Deep down, would we want another slice of pizza? Another couple of pounds? One more present from our list? - Remind the children that in the video, the people in the office had more than enough, whereas the boys were going hungry. The boys didn’t have enough, but in fact, there was enough in the orphanage for everybody, if the men had shared the food fairly.
- Explain to the children that the same is true across the world. In some countries, people struggle to have enough food to eat, whereas in others, people feast like the governors, greedily taking everything they want and throwing away the leftovers.
- Ask the children the following questions.
- How much is enough?
- Do we really need a little bit more?
- Could we share what we have so that there is enough for everyone?
Time for reflection
Invite the children to make themselves quiet and take some time to think about what you have discussed this morning.
Explain that you are going to tell them about a man called John Wesley, who founded a branch of Christianity called Methodism.
One day, when John was in his twenties, he sat down and worked out that he needed £28 a year to live on (he did live 300 years ago!). That year, he had earned £30, so he gave away the spare £2 to the poor.
John became well-known as he travelled around telling people about Jesus. As he did so, he earned more and more money so that one year, his total income was £1400. However, no matter how much more John earned, he continued to live on £28 a year, giving the rest away to those who needed it.
So, how much was enough for John Wesley? The answer seems to be £28 a year!
Suggest that maybe, we don’t need a little bit more. Perhaps we already have everything that we need.
Pause to allow time for thought.
Prayer
Dear Jesus,
Thank you for the example of John Wesley, who knew not to be greedy, but to live on ‘enough’.
Thank you that you have created enough for everyone.
Please help us to share what we have so that everyone has everything that they need.
Please help us not to be greedy, always searching for a little bit more.
Amen.
Song/music
‘The golden rule’ by Nick and Becky Drake, available at: https://youtu.be/o6YGlUWgcgk (2.57 minutes long)
Extension activities
- You could use this assembly as an opportunity to link with a charity that supports those in need, such as a local food bank or an overseas mission.
- You could explore the story of Oliver Twist in more detail, perhaps by watching the film, learning some of the songs or using it as a basis for some creative writing.
