Labor, as in work, is not a hot commodity. It's easy to find work, as in work to be done, but it's hard to find good workers to complete it. So why do we bother? When everyone else seems to be on endless summer break or weekends full of video games, why should we labor?
If you have been in the christian culture for any length of time, I’m sure your brain went instantly to one of two places:
- God created Adam and Eve and gave them work to complete. Work is therefore sanctioned by God for man. Therefore, we are to do our work well.
- Peter tells us that “he who does not work, does not eat”, thereby connecting our work with our need for food.
These are great examples as to why we should work, but what about our children? Are they, as immature beings, capable of fulling understanding the God-given mandate and spiritual connection to work?
"A job well done is reward in itself"
Is it? As children are concrete, spontaneous, and physically motivated, they may struggle to connect a job well done with good work. There are many of us who, when thinking about the throne room in heaven, desire more than anything to hear those words “Well done, good and faithful servant.” But a lifetime of work is a long time to wait for an atta boy, and most children lack the capacity to do so.
If their reward comes in 80 years, why bother working diligently today?
Instead of trying to force our children to mature instantly, let’s help our children understand the connection between work and reward. Let’s model for them strong work habits and great rewards. Let’s surprise them with rewards for going the extra distance.
Let’s help them see that work has a carnal reward attached to it, and when they find themselves working for the sake of work, they will discover the spiritual rewards as well.