Courtesy of Cornell University via Creative Commons @ flickr.com
The world of work is changing. In the diverse global economy, so much opportunity exists today that there simply aren’t enough workers to fill the demand. You might scoff at this, especially if you’re unemployed or know someone who is. But many companies are hiring and there is plenty of work to be done. Even in my little hamlet of Birmingham, Alabama, plenty of jobs remain vacant.
Work was given to us by God in Genesis 2:15. He put Adam in the Garden of Eden “to work it and take care of it.” “The curse”, as many folks refer to it, came later in Genesis 3:17 once Adam and Eve went against God’s command.
So, the way I see it, work is a good thing. The fruits of our labor provides for ourselves and our families. Hard work, resulting in the creation of products and services, advances society. In my opinion, work is not something to be dreaded. It should be embraced, cherished, and protected. Colossians 3:23 tells us “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.”
Sadly, though, many folks demonize work. They would rather be provided for through public assistance than earn an honest living. I’m referring to those who are capable of providing for themselves, yet find all of the loopholes and workarounds to get onto public assistance.
Before you fire off a nasty comment, please understand that I’m not talking about those who cannot work. They are exactly the reason that public assistance was created. In fact, there are references throughout the Bible that we should take care of the widows, the orphans, the poor and the needy.
Even those who have work would rather be doing something else. Why is it that we spend so much energy trying to find the next job? I believe it’s because we have been trained to look at work the wrong way. Most Americans are dissatisfied with their jobs. Even when they get the next job, it doesn’t take long before they begin searching again.
We end up running from a bad situation to anything new. I think it happens because we’ve been going about the job search in the wrong way. What if, instead, we were intentional about it and ran towards something that fits who we are? It’s the difference between being chased and doing the chasing.
So what attitudes should we be teaching our kids about work? I wrote a guest post about work which appears today on Your Teen’s Money Skills. In this post titled “Work Is Not A Four-Letter Word“, I give parents seven actionable steps for creating healthy attitudes about work in their teens.
When it comes to handling money, much is made of the spending side of the equation. But a healthy attitude towards work addresses the supply side. Check out the seven steps in the post above and let me know your thoughts!
Application Question: If your child were asked what you think about your work, what would they say? Do you want the same for them?
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