Category Archives: Work
The Lesson of Work
Have you ever wondered if teach children to work is really part of their education? Here is some profound admonition on the subject. (Notice the last quote in which work is referred to as school.)
“Parents should awaken to the fact that the most important lesson for their children to learn is that they must act their part in bearing the burdens of the home.” (Adventist Home, p. 285)
“Work is good for children; they are happier to be usefully employed a large share of the time; their innocent amusements are enjoyed with a keener zest after the successful completion of their tasks. Labor strengthens both the muscles and the mind. Mothers may make precious little helpers of their children; and, while teaching them to be useful, they may themselves gain knowledge of human nature and how to deal with these fresh, young beings and keep their hearts warm and youthful by contact with the little ones. And as their children look to them in confidence and love, so may they look to the dear Saviour for help and guidance. Children that are properly trained, as they advance in years, learn to love that labor which makes the burdens of their friends lighter.” (Adventist Home, p. 286)
“If children were taught to regard the humble round of everyday duties as the course marked out for them by the Lord, as a school in which they were to be trained to render faithful and efficient service, how much more pleasant and honorable would their work appear! To perform every duty as unto the Lord throws a charm around the humblest employment and links the workers on earth with the holy beings who do God’s will in heaven.” (Adventist Home, p. 287)
Motivation Monday
We are to educate the youth to exercise equally the mental and the physical powers. The healthful exercise of the whole being will give an education that is broad and comprehensive. We had stern work to do in Australia in educating parents and youth along these lines; but we persevered in our efforts until the lesson was learned that in order to have an education that was complete, the time of study 
must be divided between the gaining of book-knowledge and the securing of a knowledge of practical work. Part of each day was spent in useful work, the students learning how to clear the land, how to cultivate the soil, and how to build houses, using time that would otherwise have been spent in playing games and seeking amusement. And the Lord blessed the students who thus devoted their time to acquiring habits of usefulness.
Instruct the students not to regard as most essential the theoretical part of their education. Let it be more and more deeply impressed upon every student that we should have an intelligent understanding of how to treat the physical system. And there are many who would have greater intelligence in these matters if they would not confine themselves to years of study without a practical experience. The more fully we put ourselves under the direction of God, the greater knowledge we shall receive from God. Let us say to our students: Keep yourselves in connection with the Source of all power. Ye are laborers together with God. He is to be our chief instructor.—The Review and Herald, November 11, 1909.
Motivation Monday
“Children as well as parents have important duties in the home. They should be taught that they are a part of the home firm. They are fed and clothed and loved and cared for, and they should respond to these many mercies by bearing their share of the home burdens and bringing all the happiness possible into the family of which they are members.”
Ministry of Healing , 394
Motivation Monday
“The fact that he [Christ] was without fault in his home life makes him a pattern for all children and youth. He was no less the Son of God in his quiet life at home, in faithfully serving his parents at Nazareth, than while healing the sick, and in raising the dead.
“Important lessons can be here drawn for children and youth, that they cannot be employed in a more noble work than in performing their duty to their parents. They are no less engaged in the work of God, acknowledged and recorded by the heavenly angels as such, in faithful, filial obedience, than in a more public and more responsible position of later days. Youth can serve God as faithfully in the submission of their wills to their parents, and in the filial discharge of the every-day duties of life, as in the house of God.”
Youth’s Instructor, March 1, 1873
Seeds + Dirt =
Seeds + Dirt = the beginnings of a great nature study!
You will find that even very young children love the idea of helping to grow a plant. There are lots of options for learning how a seed becomes a plant. A wet paper towel inside of a sealed sandwich bag is a fun way to watch a seed sprout. A small pot with soil will create great interest as your child waits for the seed to pop through the soil. Quick germinating seeds like radishes, melons, or lettuce will be exciting to wait for. If you have the space outdoors, a manageable-sized vegetable or flower garden for the entire family to enjoy is a worthwhile project.
Dropping a seed into soil is more than just a fun school project. There are valuable character lessons for your children to to learn: responsibility, diligence, perseverance, and more.
“The parable of the sower and the seed conveys a deep spiritual lesson. The seed represents the principles sown in the heart, and its growth the development of character. Make the teaching on this point practical. The children can prepare the soiland sow the seed; and as they work, the parent or teacher can explain to them the garden of the heart, with the good or bad seed sown there; and that as the garden must be prepared for the natural seed, so the heart must be prepared for the seed of truth. As the plant grows, the correspondence between the natural and the spiritual sowing can be continued.”
Child Guidance, 56
Here are a few links to give you inspiration:
Motivation Monday
“One of the surest safeguards against evil is useful occupation, while idleness is one of the greatest curses; for vice, crime, and poverty follow in its wake.”
Counsels to Parents, Teachers and Students, 275
Samuel, the Diligent Worker
“The child Samuel grew on, and was in favor both with the Lord, and also with men.” “It was his constant endeavor to become what God would have him. This is the privilege of every youth. God is pleased when even little children give themselves to His service.” (1 Samuel 2:26; Patriarchs and Prophets, 573)
What a thought to encourage us to work for the conversion of even our little ones. Now we must put our faith into actions and work for their salvation. It is quite interesting how we are counseled to prepare our children to be useful agents of the Lord in this life. We are counseled to teach our children how to work—how to be diligent workers. We can learn the blessing that work is for children in so many stories and one of those is the story of the child Samuel. “Young as he was when brought to minister in the tabernacle, Samuel had even then duties to perform in the service of God, according to his capacity. These were at first very humble, and not always pleasant; but they were performed to the best of his ability, and with a willing heart. His religion was carried into every duty of life. He regarded himself as God’s servant, and his work as God’s work. His efforts were accepted, because they were prompted by love to and a sincere desire to do His will. It was thus that Samuel became a co-worker with the Lord of heaven and earth. And God fitted him to accomplish a great work for Israel.” (Patriarchs and Prophets, 573)
Can we train our children to be faithful like Samuel? Can we train them to cheerfully carry their lot in life, no matter what their age? Can we train them to regard work as service unto the Lord? “If children were taught to regard the humble round of everyday duties as the course marked out for them by the Lord, as a school in which they were to be trained to render faithful and efficient service, how much more pleasant and honorable would their work appear. To perform every duty as unto the Lord, throws a charm around the humblest employment and links the workers on earth with the holy beings who do God’s will in heaven.” (Patriarchs and Prophets, 574)
Sometimes it’s difficult to train children to work. Sometimes it’s easier for parents to just do the work themselves. Why should we put so much effort into teaching them how to do their work with thoroughness and diligence? “Success in this life, success in gaining the future life, depends upon a faithful, conscientious attention to the little things. Perfection is seen in the least, no less than in the greatest, of the works of God. The hand that hung the worlds in space is the hand that wrought with delicate skill the lilies of the field. And as God is perfect in His sphere, so we are to be perfect in ours. The symmetrical structure of a strong, beautiful character is built up by individual acts of duty. And faithfulness should characterize our life in the least as well as in the greatest of its details. Integrity in little things, the performance of little acts of fidelity and little deeds of kindness, will gladden the path of life; and when our work on earth is ended, it will be found that every one of the little duties faithfully performed has exerted an influence for good–an influence that can never perish.” (Ibid.) God appointed work as a blessing, and only the diligent worker finds the true glory and joy of life. (Desire of Ages, 72)
Wouldn’t it be wonderful to prepare our children to be Samuels? It’s possible and it’s needed. “The youth of our time may become as precious in the sight of God as was Samuel. By faithfully maintaining their Christian integrity, they may exert a strong influence in the work of reform. Such men are needed at this time. God has a work for every one of them. Never did men achieve greater results for God and humanity than may be achieved in this our day by those who will be faithful to their God-given trust.” (Patriarchs and Prophets, 574.)
As we’re planning out our children’s learning for the next day, week, month or year, let us not forget to include learning to work. We want our children to be successful in this life and the life to come.
