Labor Day! Was there ever a more misnamed holiday? Most Americans will do as little as possible on Labor Day. Our history of inventions has been in “labor-saving” devices. Inventors always try to come up with new gadgets to avoid labor.
No one wants to be described as a “laborer”. We have “white collar” and “blue collar” workers to describe the work force but laborer implies under-educated, unskilled people who still earn a living by the sweat of their brows. And labor is the last thing we want to do on Labor Day, it’s a day for doing nothing but having a cookout and playing games.
The picture in the Bible is that work was fun before man rebelled against God. In partnership with God, man had a good life and enjoyed the bounty of the earth. When man tried to break the partnership with God, it wasn’t fun anymore.
“Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food.” (Genesis 3:17-19a NIV)
Work becomes laborious and non-fulfilling when the relationship with God is broken. The weekly chant on Friday of “TGIF” finds its climax on Labor Day, a day to do anything but labor.
1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 sees a direct connection between a Christian’s profession of faith and work. Work will win the respect of non-believers and you will not be dependent on anyone else. Obviously, work makes life meaningful. I wonder how many of today’s readers were urged to get educated so you wouldn’t have to work so hard?
Whatever you do (labor), do it all for the glory of the Lord. Enjoy your holiday this Labor Day.
“Creator God, I thank you that you have always provided work opportunities
for me and my family. Thank You for meeting this special need. Amen”
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