Laurel’s Chore – Today’s Family Devotion

Bible Reading of the Day: Read Luke 16:10-12.

Verse of the Day: “Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful” (1 Corinthians 4:2, NIV).

“Do I have to?” Laurel whined.

Mom looked surprised. “Laurel, you know we all have chores in this house. That’s part of being a family.”

Laurel’s head sagged. “I’m just tired of taking out the trash,” she said. “Why can’t somebody else take out the trash?”

Mom wore a serious but gentle expression. “We all have chores to do, Laurel. I do laundry and do most of the cooking. Your dad washes dishes and does the yard work. Your brother sweeps the floors and feeds the dog.”

“I know,” Laurel said, her voice a whine. Then her face brightened. “What if I paid Tommy some of my allowance to take the trash out for me?”

Mom chuckled. “No, I don’t think so,” she said.

“Why not? As long as it gets done, what difference does it make who does it?”

“It makes a big difference,” Mom answered.

“Why?” Laurel said, a trace of defiance entering her voice.

“Dad and I don’t just give you chores because there’s work to be done,” Mom said.

“Well, then, why do you make me do chores?” Laurel asked.

Mom hesitated only a moment before answering. “One reason,” she said, “is to help you learn to be faithful.”

Laurel said nothing, but looked at her mom with an expression of uncertainty.

Mom continued. “We want to be able to depend on you, Laurel,” she said. “We want to know that, when you get older, you’ll be faithful to God, and to your family, and to others. But becoming a faithful person, a dependable person, doesn’t happen overnight.”

“So, you’re saying I’m supposed to learn something from taking out garbage?” Laurel asked.

Mom smiled broadly and said. “We want you to learn how to be faithful, how to fulfill a responsibility, how to be the kind of person who can always be counted on.”

“I haven’t been doing that with my chores, have I?” Laurel asked.

Mom shook her head. “Not yet,” she answered, smiling softly. Laurel took a deep breath. “All right,” she said. “From now on, you can count on me. I’ll be the best trash-taker-outer there’s ever been.” She saluted like a soldier. Mom returned her salute. “Outstanding!” she said.

TO DISCUSS: What are your chores? Do you do them faithfully or do you need to work harder at being faithful and dependable? How can doing your chores like you’re supposed to help you develop faithfulness?

TO PRAY: “Help us, Lord, to be faithful over all that we have to do this week.”