Work has been corrupted by our fallen world.. As parents, we have a responsibility to prepare our children for work. We are called to invest in and disciple them to prepare them for their future. This task pushes us to wrestle with the character issues of laziness and arrogance and keep them from invading our homes. Whether this means setting a better example of work ethic in our families, encouraging our child to work in a less affirming environment, or holding them accountable to reality and God’s calling for them, we have to be aware of the dangers of laziness and hold our families to God’s standard of work.

Scripture References

Proverbs 26:13-16
Proverbs 14:23
Proverbs 18:9
Proverbs 28:19
Proverbs 21:25
Proverbs 10:26
Proverbs 15:19
Proverbs 22:6
Proverbs 16:26
Proverbs 2:1-2
Ephesians 4:28

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For Parents:

1. As we see in Proverbs 26:13-16, a lazy person is always looking for excuses to relieve himself of responsibility, over-indulges in sleep and comfort, can’t seem to seize an opportunity directly in front of him, and thinks of himself as wiser than he really is. This takes the form of arrogant, argumentative children in our homes. How have you created an environment of laziness in your home? In what ways have you enabled laziness?
2. Students need to work in an environment separate from their sports or hobbies. Their work should not be the same place where they receive the most affirmation and glory. Think about the places you have encouraged your child to work. How can you improve on this?
3. Our children will be less likely to understand work if we, as parents, are not being good models of work ethic for our families. We shouldn’t expect character in them that we don’t model ourselves. How have you been a model of work for your children? If you are not a parent, how can your model of good work ethic still impact the next generation?
4. As parents, we are called to disciple our children and invest in them. If you dwell on the performance of your child, you are expressing a need for them to fill. Rather than discipling and investing in them, you are taking from them. Think about moments where you have taken from your kids instead of investing in them. How might this affect the attitude of work in your home?
5. It is crucial to hold our students accountable. We have to care enough to get involved, speak up, and not be afraid to overstep or misstep. How have you been hesitant in the area of accountability for your children? What are ways you can be more intentional?

For Students and Children:

1. You are called to obey your parents, not evaluate them or their decisions. Your parents have wisdom and perspective that you don’t have. How does your attitude towards your parents need to change?
2. Part of your role is to work with your siblings to create a good environment within your home. This means having good camaraderie with your siblings and working together with one another. In what ways can your relationship with your siblings improve in order for you to work together to help create a good home?
3. School is one of the areas of your work you are responsible for. It may not be something you enjoy, but it’s important to learn how to master yourself and channel your energy into something that is challenging. How can you begin taking the responsibility of your schoolwork more seriously?
4. It’s important to find ways to contribute within your home. Whether it’s having designated chores or seeing dirty dishes and taking the initiative to clean them, you should work within your home and find ways to be useful. What’s one thing you can begin doing today to be more useful in your home?
5. You need to find work that you get paid for. Seeing how little you earn and how far your money goes provides necessary humbling. What steps do you need to take to find a paying job?

Thoughts to Consider

-As parents, we cannot be afraid of speaking reality into the dreams of our children. It’s more important to teach them how to put work into something they can really master than it is to entertain their fantasies to keep them momentarily happy (Proverbs 28:19).
-In the grand scheme of things, our children are with us for a fraction of their lives. There is a piece of parenting in which you have to put aside the feelings of the moment and recognize the bigger lesson you can teach them for their future.
-Sports and hobbies are self-actualizing. If these are your child’s only form of work, he or she will have unrealistic standards of needing affirmation in their work.
-Learn to listen for your children challenging your direction. This combativeness empowers an arrogant heart that is unwilling to submit to authority or commit to a difficult job. Expect obedience, not discussion.
-Work is an important part of shaping character. As both parents and children, we should engage work as a spiritual idea, and let it humble us so that we do not become arrogant.