We focused on Joseph's story and read Genesis 39:1-6. Here we find Joseph doing a job that he hated. Why? Because he was actually sold into slavery and forced to do it! This wasn't what he wanted to do! But what's amazing is that Joseph is known as someone who did his very best and worked hard, and because of that, he succeeded in everything that he did.
There might be some days when your teen might REALLY hate doing chores around the house, when they have to do piles of homework or spend hours studying for a test when they would much rather play video games or watch Netflix. There might be days when your teen might even have a "dirty job" and has to do work that he/she doesn't enjoy. In fact, your teen might be tempted to grumble and complain or not do their best. Well, the Bible reminds us of a few important things that might help:
1. GOD IS WITH YOU WHEN YOU WORK
This passage reminds us that God was with Joseph, helping him, changing his attitude, giving him the strength to do the job that he hated doing. When you're facing stress over school work or aren't thrilled about a chore you've been given, you can talk to God. You can ask him to help you to do your best. You can ask him to change your attitude towards the work that you're doing!
2. PEOPLE WILL NOTICE THE WAY YOU WORK
Genesis 39:3 says that Potiphar noticed Joseph's work. Even though he was in a lousy situation, he earned an amazing reputation as someone who did his best....and because of that, he got promoted into better positions-- eventually becoming the guy in charge of Potiphar's whole house! This reminds us that when we work hard and do our best, even if we might not really enjoy what we're doing, our hard work and attitudes will be noticed! People will think highly of you!
I shared about how, when I was a teenager, I worked at Canadian Tire and earned a reputation of being a hard worker who could be trusted (unlike the person who would find a secret place in the warehouse to sleep through his whole shift). Because of the reputation that I earned, I was trusted to work overnight when nobody else was around, they continued to hire me back every summer, and the owner of the store even thanked me personally, knowing that I was someone who did my best because I loved and followed Jesus. Having a reputation of being a hard worker is something that will benefit you your whole life....and it can start right now with the way you work at school or the way you help around the house.
3. WE CAN WORK AS WORSHIP
Ephesians 3:23 says that we should work at everything we do with all of our hearts as if we were working for the Lord. This reminds us that we can work as worship! Worship refers to anything that we do that shows that we love God. That could mean singing songs in church, making the right choices in life, showing kindness to someone, or working in a way that would make God proud of you! I shared about a time when I was a custodian in a church building that had a Montessori school, so there were 70-80 preschoolers using the building every day. There were days when I dreaded going into clean the washroom. I remember times when I would be sitting in my office when a teacher would ask me to go clean up the mess after a child threw up. It definitely wasn't a glamorous job. But, I made a decision. Instead of grumbling and complaining and hating the work I had to do, I decided to do my very best as if Jesus himself had asked me to do it! When I did that work (no matter how disgusting it was) as worship, I found that it was a lot easier. It was far less painful. In fact, I even ENJOYED doing it! Whether it's schoolwork, chores around the house, or cleaning the bathrooms at McDonalds at your very first job, you can do those things as worship! You can do those things as if Jesus himself asked you to do them! You might even find that you'll work even harder and actually come to enjoy those "dirty jobs"...because you're doing those things as worship to God.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR HOME
1. Parents, share a story of a "dirty job" that you once had to do. Talk about how you did your very best and did your work as worship. You can even share about a time when you got fired for not being a hard worker if that's applicable.
2. Remind your teen that EVERYONE has to do things that they might not enjoy. That might mean schoolwork, chores around the house, or working at a "dirty job", but that if we have a reputation of being a hard worker and doing our best, that's something that will benefit us in the future.
3. Is there something at school, at home, or at a job that your teen is finding really difficult and stressful? Take the time to pray for your teen, asking God to help them to do their best and to work hard when they might not feel like it.
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