Today's Youth Devotional

Bible reading: 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12

“This should be your ambition: to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands” (1 Thessalonians 4:11a, NLT).

Has anybody ever asked you this question: “What do you wanna be when you grow up?”

You’ve probably been asked that lots of times, right? You’ve probably been asked that question so often, you feel like giving a smart-aleck answer every once in a while, like “An adult!” or “About six feet tall!”

But you probably have some idea what career or profession you want to pursue when you get older. Maybe you want to be a doctor, or a country music singing sensation. Maybe you want to be a pilot, a race car driver, or a steamroller operator. Maybe you hope to become a quarterback in the NFL or a secret agent in the CIA. Maybe you want to be a farmer, or a snake charmer. Maybe you want to be a movie star.

However you may answer the question “What do you wanna be when you grow up?” there’s an even more important question you might want to think about: Do you know how to work?

See, a lot of kids spend a lot of time dreaming and scheming about what they’re going to be when they grow up, but they never learn how to work. Oh, they may take the trash out when Mom yells at ‘em, but they get through school, and high school, and even college, without learning to work hard and stick to a job until it’s done well.

Of course, you may not have to worry about earning a living for a few more years yet. That gives you time to learn--in school, at home, even at church--how to apply yourself to a job and obey God’s command to do good, honest work (Ephesians 4:28, 1 Thessalonians 4:11, 2 Thessalonians 3:12). Just keep that in mind the next time there’s homework to do, or wood to stack, or a steamroller to be driven.

Review: Do any of the careers or occupations mentioned above interest you? If so, which ones? If not, what careers or occupations do interest you? Do you think you need to decide that now, or can it wait?

Reflect: Do you think you know how to work? Why or why not? Do you consider yourself a hard worker? Why or why not? When’s the last time you worked really hard? Do you think you can start learning to work hard now, or can it wait?        

Reinforce: Ask your parents and friends if they think you’re a good worker; also ask what you can do to improve.

Remember: “A lazy person is as bad as someone who destroys things” (Proverbs 18:9, NLT).