During the Depression many people had to work both inside and outside the home. In those days children were expected to help out where they could. But today many parents feel they are being too hard on their kids if they ask them to help out around the house.

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.

Source: How To Raise Your Kids In Troubled Times by Buddy & Pat Harrison.
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers