God's Word says: "...make it your ambition and definitely endeavor to live quietly and peacefully, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we charged you; So that you may bear yourselves becomingly, be correct and honorable and command the respect of the outside world, being (self-supporting,) dependent on nobody and having need of nothing" (1 Thess. 4:11-12 AMP).
In the beginning, God gave man work to do: "The Lord took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it" (Gen. 2:15 NIV).
Work is built into the very nature of man. God created us to work. It's part of who we are and what we are. It gives us a sense of purpose and makes us feel good about ourselves. So it's important that we teach our children to work.
When your kids are small, start giving them jobs to do. Make them responsible for helping around the house. As they get older, expect more from them. Teach them that work is good, that it's important and ordained by God.
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers