plan. In other words, work is
good!
child; however, no matter what
stage you find yourself in regards
to rearing your children, it’s never
The practical take away of this too late to make needed change
is simple. If we as parents wish in your own life.
to teach our children a strong
and healthy ethic of work, we Although the language of exammust begin by making sure we ple is not found in Deuteronomy
rescue their viewpoint of it. Just 6:6-7, I do not at all find it to be
as God reveals something of a stretch to assume that it is
His majesty, creativity, love and implied. Consider these words in
glory through the work of His regards to our call to teach and
hands, we too are to reflect His be examples to our kids: “And
worth and majesty through the these words that I command
work He provides for us to do. you today shall be on your heart.
When we understand this, work You shall teach them diligently
becomes something far differ- to your children, and shall talk of
ent than a mere necessity in them when you sit in your house,
life, it becomes an opportunity to and when you walk by the way,
reflect the greatness of God!
and when you lie down, and
when you rise.” (Deuteronomy
We need to encourage their 6:6–7, ESV) One of the glaring
desire to work through the take away here is that the job of
example we live (Practical a parent is non-stop. Whether
example)
we are sitting, walking, lying
down or getting up…all of life is
More than simply teaching a to be a class room!
message that rescues our children’s viewpoint of work, we In regards to developing a strong
must diligently labor to live out biblical work ethic, parents have
an example that will encourage a huge responsibility. With the
their desire to work. Words are full knowledge that no one is
great and words well-spoken are perfect, parents are always on
often invaluable in their power to the stage of life before watching
instruct and lead others. How- eyes and pliable hearts! For this
ever, few things are more pow- reason, parents must be ever
erful in the lives of children than mindful of the influence they
a life lived well! If we as parents wield. Practically speaking, this
never strive and succeed at means that things like punctualembodying the message we are ity, diligence, striving for excelteaching our kids, we should not lence, refusing to grumble and
expect them to do it either. Too complain, thankfulness, servantoften we as parents try to teach, hood, humility, and responsibillecture and instruct our children ity are all character traits that will
in the ways of wise living never either be encouraged or discourrealizing that the most effective aged through our example.
way to teach them is th rough a
message written by action and We need to combat their
affirmed by words. Certainly reluctance to work through
there is room here for a discus- the principles we champion
sion on the formative years of a (Godly Warnings)
Tucked away over in the letter of
2 Thessalonians is a passage of
Scripture that will strike fear into
your very stomachs! In short, it
says that if you refuse to work
hard you shouldn’t expect to eat
well. (Paraphrase of 2 Thessalonians 3:10-11) This may sound
like a cruel form of advice for
those who are seeking to train up
their children in the ways of the
Lord. Suffice it to say, I would not
suggest starving your children
as a way of teaching them the
value of hard work and danger
of laziness. Nevertheless, there
is a principle in this passage that
is of great value. Simply said,
“We reap what we sow”. In some
measure, you get out of something what you put into it. We see
this principle in several places
throughout Scripture and if our
children do not learn it early on,
they will fall prey to their own
ignorance.
God’s word is certainly not silent
on the topic of laziness and
procrastination. The warnings
are plentiful! If we wish to lead
our children to a strong biblical
work ethic, we would do well to
combat their natural reluctance
to work hard by championing the
principles of Scripture and heeding the warnings. Let’s consider
just a few.
1. Laziness often leads to strained
relationships and offense. “Like
vinegar to the teeth and smoke
to the eyes, so is the sluggard to
those who send him.” (Proverbs
10:26, ESV)
2. Laziness often leads to unfulfilled desires. - “The soul of the
sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent
is richly supplied.” (Proverbs