LESSONS FROM A PAPER ROUTE

If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. (2 Thessalonians 3:10b, NKJV)

How many of us still remember our 1^st job? I certainly do, when I was in junior high, I began my first job delivering news papers. I didn’t earn much money as a news paper delivery boy, but I did learn valuable lessons.

The job did not interfere with my schooling, provided me needed exercise, and gave me skills I would need and put into practice in my future career:

1. Being dependable: People would be upset if they did not get their paper on time.
2. Keeping my tools in order: One time the bag I use in my route tore from the weight and wear of the papers. I should have replaced the bag sooner.
3. Practicing effective money management: if I person did not pay for the newspaper I needed to drop them.
4. Enduring hardships: Bad weather, homework, or sickness could not deter me from delivering newspapers.
5. Return on investment: When extra effort was required such as a longer walk to deliver the paper, I could feel free to charge the customer a little extra.

I learned these lessons at as a young boy, and they prepared me for a lifetime of work and helped me obey 2 Thessalonians 3:10b.

Being dependable, honing my tools.

Good money management, following the rules,

Enduring hardships in spite of the pain.

Obeying the Bible, again and again.

Lessons learned early about working last a lifetime. 

• What lessons about good work habits did you learn early in your life? 
• What skills were needed in your first job? 
• Are there any exceptions to 2 Thessalonians 3:10b?