In 1894, the United States adopted the first Monday in September as the legal holiday known as Labor Day (while some other countries celebrate Labor Day, it may fall on a different day). For children in the United States, Labor Day is often known as the last day off before going back to school, celebrated with perhaps a family picnic or barbecue. Most children don’t really understand the meaning of why we celebrate Labor Day, they’re just glad to have a day off to enjoy the end of summer. After all, why would you celebrate work?
However, back in the day, the laborers were the ones who pushed for this holiday to be created in the US. They wanted a time to celebrate the achievements of American workers and their contributions that better our society. They recognized that work is an important part of life, and one that God gave to us as a gift. Here are three biblical truths about labor that you can teach to start instilling a healthy perspective towards work in children, helping them live a more productive, fulfilling, and contented life.
1. Work is good
Have a purpose in life, with tasks to keep us busy and creative.
The first step towards instilling a proper perspective towards work in children is to teach them that work is good. The Bible tells us God put man in the Garden of Eden to work—to have a purpose in life, with tasks to keep us busy and creative.
Work is not bad or a result of Adam and Eve’s sin, although it did become harder as a result of sin. God knows that work is good for us. It gives us meaning and teaches discipline, creativity and how to contribute to others in the world around us.
To help instill a proper perspective towards work in children, as soon as they are able they should participate in age-appropriate work. Young children can put their toys away, set and clear the table, or put their dirty clothes in the hamper.
When instilling a proper perspective towards work in children, many things that may be considered “chores” should really be natural parts of our lives. For example, consider having a house rule that if you make a mess, you clean it up. As children get older, they can do the dishes, help with laundry, pull weeds, and mow the grass.
Just because it’s work doesn’t mean it can’t be fun.
Most children will especially like working alongside you. Just because it’s work doesn’t mean it can’t be fun or a great way to spend quality time together.
Often, instilling a proper perspective towards work in children means helping them enjoy the goodness that can come from labor. Make work enjoyable rather than a chore by singing a song with them as they pick up their toys, asking them questions about their life and interests, or having a race and counting to see if they can finish by the time you reach 100. Even simply sharing a story from your life with them while doing the dishes can turn a chore into a cherished memory.
2. We were created to work for God
The Bible tells us we are created in Christ Jesus to do good works. God has given us the scriptures so we can be equipped for every good work to draw on his infinite knowledge and strength.
We should all work because it pleases God and fulfills our deep purpose.
To start instilling a proper perspective towards work in children, help them understand that work isn’t just something they do because you tell them to, something they do to make others happy, or even for themselves. We should all work because it pleases God and fulfills our deep purpose to glorify him. We were created to do all our work as unto God, and we can find so much joy by doing so!
3. All good work will be rewarded
These rewards for hard work can be physical, spiritual or both, but they will become obvious if you teach kids how to notice them. For example, those who garden get to enjoy the fruits of what they’ve grown, while those who build get to see the results of the finished product.
God rewards most greatly those who do their work for him.
Most people consider getting a paycheck as their reward for work, and God does expect His people to work to earn their own living. But did you know God rewards most greatly those who do their work for him?
When we seek to work for the Lord and his kingdom, we can know our labor is meaningful in ways that will have an eternal impact. Beyond the treasures God stores up in heaven for us, God will use what we do for good here on earth, even though we may not always see it.
To start instilling a proper perspective towards work in children, you can encourage kids to work hard by rewarding them for their efforts. Saying thank you, giving an allowance, offering a special dessert or taking them someplace fun will show them you recognize and appreciate all their hard work. Be sure to remind them that God also sees and rewards work done for him in far greater ways.
This Labor Day, we encourage you to talk with children in your care about labor and start instilling a proper perspective towards work in them. After all, God made us to work, and when we do this work alongside our children, God is pleased and we will be rewarded too!
Fred Pry is the Vice President of Administration at Child Evangelism Fellowship® (CEF®), the most impactful child evangelism ministry in the world, reaching over 27.4 million children with its face-to-face ministry in 2024. Fred joined CEF in 2003 as director of a local chapter in Pennsylvania before being appointed state director of Virginia. Later, he was invited to lead USA Ministries, and since 2024, he has been serving in the role of Vice President of Administration and providing further leadership to the organization as one of CEF’s executive staff.
