Promoting Christian Work Ethics at Home

Promoting Christian Work Ethics at Home: Recently, I watched a video on a social media platform where a father graded his daughter’s work ethics at home and paid her when she met his standards. He paid her $5 American Dollars whenever she scored 25 points and above on his work chart. He also taught her how to spend her money wisely by drawing another chart with three sub-heads – savings, spending and giving to charity. Sadly, there are people like me who did not get this kind of home training growing up with our parents.

 When I became a follower of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit quickened Colossians 3:23-24 to my heart, “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.” This Scripture defined my work ethics and helped me to excel in my endeavours.

There is a saying that no one can give others what they do not have. This applies to both physical and spiritual realms. God says in Proverbs 22:6, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” What happens if the parents do no imbibe godly work ethics themselves? How will they be able to impart these to their children?

Christian work ethic emphasises working diligently, ethically, and with excellence as an act of worship to God. Key aspects include viewing work as a service to the Lord, striving for quality in all tasks and conducting oneself with integrity and honesty. Here are some Bible verses that illustrate diligence as Christian work ethic:

1. “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might” (Ecclesiastes 9:10);
2. “A  slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich” (Proverbs 10:4);
3. “The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied” (Proverbs 13:4); and
4. “Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established” (Proverbs 16:3);
5. “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving” (Colossians 3:23-24).

       On working ethically, Proverbs 11:1 states, “A false balance is an abomination to the LORD, but a just weight is His delight.” Also, Philippians 2:14-16 tell believers to “Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.” Similarly, the Lord said in Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

In the case of aiming to achieve excellence in our endeavours, Genesis 1:31 says, “When God viewed His own work, He pronounced it excellent.” This Scripture should inspire believers to strive for excellence in their work as an imitation of God. Lastly, we come to the greatest exhortation of all, Jesus’ word recorded in Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” The verse emphasizes the importance of prioritizing God’s Kingdom and His righteousness over our earthly desires and ambitions.

How Parents Can Inculcate Godly Work Ethics in their Children

1. Explain to them that work is a gift from God, and not a curse. It was part of His original design for humanity (Genesis 2:15.
2. Tell them that work is a means of glorifying God and serving others.
3. Help them to find their purpose and meaning in their work as a valuable aspect of Christian living.
4. Teach them to maintain a healthy work-life balance

***** Some materials sourced from Artificial Intelligence (AI) Overview on Google.com