Work, Don’t Shirk
“There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.” Ecclesiastes 2:24
There was a recent poll done among the millennial generation (those born from 1981 to 1996) which asked them the top 20 things that concerned them. Among the answers were some things that may be annoying, but not earthshattering. Being stuck in traffic was mentioned as a concern. Granted, traffic is aggravating, but it is part of life if you are going somewhere. Some other concerns were related to social media: the screen on a smartphone breaking, getting zero “likes”, phone batteries dying, and slow wi-fi. The last two listed were (are you ready for this?) choosing what to wear and washing dishes. I call some of these things “inconveniences”, but they are all unavoidable annoyances or just plain everyday tasks of life. All I can say is “Lord, please help us when these millennials take over”.
Generally speaking, the younger generation has never known real adversity. Of course there are some who have faced tragedies and heartache, but, by and large, most of them do not know what it is like to be without basic necessities, certainly not like the members of the Great Generation who made many sacrifices so that we can have the lifestyle that we have now. I remember when my children were teenagers. They did have beepers and then cell phones. My son’s first car was an old Ford Escort. Both of my children went to work bagging groceries at Winn Dixie when they were 14 years old because they wanted more than their moderate allowance would buy. They both developed a very good work ethic. Neither one of them would have thought they were “entitled”. They knew they must work for what they desired. Of course, when they became adults, they were conditioned to work hard and make a life for themselves. My son had his own business, and my daughter has a very good job and is well liked among her employers.
I am afraid that America is raising generations of young folks, many of whom are not concerned about finding their place in society as contributors, but more like receivers. This attitude will eventually come back and bite society on the rear end. A good economy can’t be sustained without incentive and hard work. I heard about a comment that was made recently by a businessman who said that among the young adults that he has employed, only one in twenty is actually prepared and willing to work.
When God made man, He designed for people to work and make a difference among those in their sphere of influence. God gave us two hands, two eyes and ears, and a mind that can think, plan, and learn, and He expects us to use them for His glory, for the upbuilding of His kingdom, and to support our families and make lives better in our communities. Thus to be healthy and strong, and then sit back and let others provide doesn’t help anyone, causes resentment among those who do work, and it surely doesn’t bring glory to God.