Joey & Carla Link
October 14, 2026
As a parent, have you ever been so frustrated with one of your kids that you wanted to take everything away from them, even writing them out of your will or taking away their inheritance?
Wise King Solomon saw this and addressed it in Proverbs 17:2. He says “A prudent servant will rule over a disgraceful son and will share the inheritance as one of the family.”
Solomon is saying that good character and wisdom matter more than social status or even birthright. Now, we are not suggesting that you should write your kids out of your will. However, if you don’t have an estate plan in place, you should consider creating one. You don’t want the state to decide who will raise your kids if something happens to you and your spouse.
Solomon is challenging parents to make sure they train their kids’ character to be better than that of someone who might work for them. If you are in a job where you are responsible for training people, be sure to train your kids even better than those who work for you. Why is it important to train your kids to be hard workers? Some day when they get their first job they will appreciate having learned how to be a good worker at home, rather than being embarrassed in a public setting.
If you have someone clean your house or mow your lawn, make sure your kids can do those jobs even better than the people you would hire to do them for you. If you couldn’t trust your dishwasher to work properly, you would get it fixed. If your kids aren’t working as hard as you expect your dishwasher to work, then it’s time to start working on your kids’ work ethic and standards by teaching them and leading by example.
Parents should have higher standards and expectations for training their kids in character, skills, integrity, and responsibility than they have for those who work for them or under them. They should also teach their kids to treat others with respect and honor.
Parents should never look at someone who works for them and think, “I wish my kids had that kind of character or work ethic!” If you ever find yourself thinking this, it’s time to start focusing more on training your kids than on training those who work for you or around you.
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”
Colossians 3:23-24
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Parenting Made Practical Podcast
Having a good work ethic is to do a job you are given to do the way it is supposed to be done, with your best effort. Is this the way your kids do their chores and schoolwork when they would rather be doing something else? Join Joey & Carla as they share how to teach your kids how to have a good work ethic with a good attitude and why it matters.
#112 Developing A Work Ethic In Kids
“A good work ethic impacts so much about your kid’s lives. From their attitude of doing chores to putting away their toys to getting their school work or homework done on time to practicing for an upcoming event with a good attitude. Do your kids have the ethic of a job well done?
Click the title or search Parenting Made Practical in your favorite podcast app to listen!