‘In all labour there is profit.’ Proverbs 14:23 NKJV
The ant never sees work as menial or beneath his dignity. Whether it’s moving dirt or carrying breadcrumbs, he merrily goes along doing his job. How unlike that are many people today! Someone has quipped, ‘If you want to keep your teenagers out of hot water, put some dirty dishes in it!’ All work can and should be done for the glory of God (see 1 Corinthians 10:31). The sum of the matter is found in this simple Bible statement: ‘In all labour there is profit.’ Teach your children the old-fashioned way of getting money—working for it!
The word ‘vocation’ comes from the Latin word vocare, which means ‘to call’. So every job or vocation, regardless of what it is, is a calling from God. Dr Martin Luther King Jr rightly declared, ‘Not all men are called to specialised or professional jobs; even fewer to the heights of genius in the arts and sciences; many are called to be labourers in factories, fields, and streets. But no work is insignificant.’ As a parent you are preparing your child for their work life, so prepare them well. If you don’t, they’ll have a life of grief, and create a life of grief for others. Plus, they may end up back on your doorstep! Bosses don’t pay workers who don’t work. So before you give your child an allowance, give them some chores like making their bed, cleaning their room, helping around the house, taking out the rubbish, getting good grades in school, and doing their homework on time. Reward without responsibility is indulgence. And if you love your child you won’t do that!
SoulFood: 1 Sam 11–13, Lk 4:1–13, Ps 95, Prov 16:31–33
The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright 2023
