Is work a good or a bad thing? 
When we discuss this later today, I can pretty much guess that I’ll have a kid land on each side of this debate.
What does God say?

On the bad side-
We can thank Adam and Eve for getting us into this situation…

To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’

“Cursed is the ground because of you;
    through painful toil you will eat food from it
    all the days of your life.
¹⁸ It will produce thorns and thistles for you,
    and you will eat the plants of the field.
¹⁹ By the sweat of your brow
    you will eat your food
until you return to the ground,
    since from it you were taken;
for dust you are
    and to dust you will return.”
Genesis 3:17-19

But on the good side-
Ask your child to consider what would happen if Mom and Dad were lazy and didn’t work:
*Would there be money for food, clothing, shelter?
*Who would get the groceries?
*What condition would our home be in?
*Can you see how work is a blessing not only to yourself, but those whom you share life with?
Ask your child, “What is your work?”  (chores, school, being respectful and obeying…)

Through laziness, the rafters sag;
    because of idle hands, the house leaks.
Ecclesiastes 10:18

Do not love sleep or you will grow poor;
    stay awake and you will have food to spare.
Proverbs 20:13

Similar discussion questions and verses can be found under the topic “Laziness” in
Parenting with Scripture: A Topical Guide for Teachable Moments.

Now ask, “Since we all have to work, what kind of attitude should we have?”

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

Similar discussion questions and verses can be found under the topic “Attitude” in
Parenting with Scripture: A Topical Guide for Teachable Moments.

Let’s pray with our kids that we will have a thankful heart to enjoy our time when we don’t have to labor.  And, that we will equally “work with all our heart, as working for the Lord”  during the labor filled hours.

Did your kids say work is good or bad?
Did you have a good “parenting with Scripture” discussion?

 (Image courtesy of www.lol-cat.org)

In honor of Labor Day, have a discussion about what kind of “work” each family member does.  This may include playing nicely, chores, instrument practice, or official jobs in or out of the home.  These are the “whatever we do” of our day-to-day lives.  Talk about these “jobs” in relation to the Colossians verse and how they can be done with thankfulness in the name of Jesus. 

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God the Father through him. 
Colossians 3:17