When I dropped my son off to his first day at work, it felt a lot like dropping him off to his first day at kindergarten. It was hard.

If you are like me, letting go of our children does not come naturally. I do it because I have to.   Because I know one day my son “shall leave his father and mother” and he needs to know how to survive. (Ephesians 5:31)
And also because, as a coworker once told me, “We are raising children to become adults not children to become bigger children.”

So, before sending my son off to work, my husband and I went over the “basics” with him. In doing so, God asked me to re-evaluate my own work ethic.

You see, the following basic Biblical principals apply across the board. To those just entering into the workforce, and also to those of us who have been there for a long, long time.

– While at work, you work. That’s why it’s called work and not play. (Robert Morris)

– You don’t call in sick unless you are sick. It doesn’t matter if you have “sick time” to burn. Be thankful for your health and work with the physical strength God has given you. A little runny nose does not warrant a sick day.
(My parents/ Deut 8:18)

-Always give at least 10% of your earnings to the Lord. (No exceptions). The 90% will go farther than the 100% ever would.         (Malachi 3:10)

Why such heavy advice to a fifteen year old kid just starting his first job as a sacker?
Because Solomon, the man who received his wisdom straight from the heart of God, tells us so. ‘Do the little things right, and see where God will take you.’ (My paraphrase of Proverbs  22:29)

Proverbs 22:29 “Do you see a man skilled in his work ? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before obscure men.”

My son may think he’s simply learning the fine art of sacking groceries (to double bag the heavy stuff, to not place cans on top of chips, to separate refrigerated items, etc)… but I believe God wants to teach him so much more.

And I believe God wants to remind us all, those just getting started and those ready to retire…when we work, we work not for man, but for God.

Colossians 3:23 “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for man.”

-Binu