Chores Develop Character and Competence

Successful people are trustworthy people. The two elements that make a person trustworthy are character and competence. We see these two qualities in the life of King David. God tells us in Psalm 78:72 that David developed these two elements while he was doing his chores. While caring for his father’s sheep he learned to lead this flock with integrity of heart (character), and skillfulness of hands (competence). The lessons David learned while doing chores were easily translated into the skills necessary to lead an entire nation. Men followed David because they could trust him, their hearts were bonded to him as they fought together in battle and as he demonstrated his character and competence in crises. h4. Harvard Study Concludes Chores are a Common Factor in Success

Harvard Study Concludes Chores are a Common Factor in Success

I read about a study done by Harvard University that covered a span of forty years. The study’s goal was to investigate juvenile delinquency, what they discovered were the common factors that lead to success in life. They studied 456 boys from Boston who were from a variety of backgrounds including: various races, diverse socio-economic settings, different educational levels, and divorced or married parents. Success was defined as having a happy marriage, a well-adjusted family life, and the ability to maintain a good job. After forty years of study the researchers concluded that the common factor among those who succeeded in life was being required to do chores as boys. Those boys who learned to work as children were able to leverage the character traits and skills they developed doing chores into their marriages, homes, and jobs.

What are some of the character traits children can learn from doing chores?

Bill Gothard has taught me the value of the following traits and the order in which they are needed to be a successful employee.

1. Initiative is recognizing and doing what needs to be done before I am asked to do it.

No work gets accomplished until someone takes initiative. A child who takes initiative around the home is a joy to his mother and a source of great relief to his father. My son Josiah loves working with tools and has often asked me if he can do something before I thought he was ready. I have simply given him the chance because of a busy schedule that may keep me from getting to it while I am at home. Because of his initiative he has learned many skills by the age of nine and has grown in competence so much that grown men comment on wanting to hire him when he is old enough. My good friend told me he wished his son was as hard a worker as Josiah, but then caught himself and said, “I’m probably the problem because I’m too much of a perfectionist and won’t let him do anything.” I find that the more I praise my children and show trust in their competence and character the more they step up to the task and give it their best shot.

People who show initiative demonstrate they are ready to seize opportunities, and pursue goals beyond what is required of them. A shipping clerk realized his company did enough business with Federal Express to get not just a volume discount but a dedicated computer to track shipping orders. The clerk took it on himself to approach the CEO as he was leaving work and pitch the idea – and saved the company $30,000. (“Competence at Work” by Spencer and Spencer)

At PNC Bank in Pittsburgh, a credit supervisor did a back-of-the-envelope calculation of the amount of electricity being eaten up by the bank’s hundreds of personal computers left on by people after they had gone home. Those sixteen hours of idle time, he calculated, cost the bank $268,000 each year. The bank finally bought the idea – at savings that would have required about $2 million in new revenues to have the equivalent bottom-line impact. (“How to Be a Star at Work” by Kelly)

People with initiative act before being forced to by external events. Chores are the perfect training ground to teach this vital character trait.

2. Diligence is investing my time and energy to complete each task assigned to me.

Many projects are started with great excitement but, eventually the realization hits us: all Noble Plans eventually deteriorate into work. The ability to follow through is crucial to success in life. The race goes to the one who finishes strong, not to the one who starts off well. Remember the story of the tortoise and the hare.

Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded. – 2 Chronicles 15:7

3. Creativity is approaching a need, a task, or an idea from a new perspective.

Every job will have its own problems. The ability to creatively overcome hindrances and obstacles in a job is a highly sought-after trait in any organization. People who can collaborate and synergize with others to come up with an alternative approach to accomplishing a job are like a breath of fresh air to leaders. Joseph was one such person who was able to give Pharaoh a creative plan to rescue his nation; he was promoted to second-in-charge and given the responsibility and the authority to accomplish it. People who can use creativity to problem-solve will find their talents highly sought after.

Any person who can use creativity to problem solve will find their talents highly sought after. Allowing children to exercise creativity means allowing them to find a better way than what we would do. Our own perfectionism can prevent us from allowing our children to flourish in their creativity.

And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand. – Genesis 39:3

4. Wisdom is seeing and responding to life situations from a perspective that transcends my current circumstances.

The person who has great creativity also needs the balancing trait of wisdom. Wisdom helps a person to choose the best creative solution for fixing the problem. Wisdom is simply the ability to take knowledge and understanding and apply it to a given situation.

A wise person will seek to restore things to God’s original design. Working with natural laws and God’s divine principles will result in lasting results.

God mourned in Deuteronomy 32:29 because His people were not wise: they did not consider the latter end. People with wisdom are able to anticipate things. They see the cause and effect of their decisions. A person who lacks wisdom is constantly reacting to crisis and looking for excuses to explain personal failures.

Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. – Proverbs 4:7

5. Enthusiasm is expressing joy in each task as I give it my best effort.

When all else fails it is the fervency of spirit that prevails. Being indwelt by God is our greatest source of power to accomplish God’s will for our lives. An enthusiastic person gives off energy that propels others to give their best, to endure until the job is completed. Enthusiasm is that rare quality that comes from knowing that I am designed for great works. When a son or daughter is able to hear God’s voice during a daily time with the Lord he or she will find the source of energy. A Word from God gives more energy and enthusiasm than any other thing I know.

Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; – Romans 12:11

Chores Part 2: A Noble Plan that Motivates

Chores Part 3: Maintaining the Momentum

Chores Part 4: Six Pointers to Keep in Mind

Resources available through IBLP IBLP Store

Posted by Chris Hogan on Friday, March 16, 2007 at 15:16 PM

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