By Fred Pry for CHRISTIAN DAILY INTERNATIONAL
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
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.
