Issue #1,171 September 6,2004 Labor Day
In Canada, it's Labor Day today. It started as a celebration of the "working man" in New York in 1882. These days there isn't much celebration of the working man left in the holiday, it has simply become that last long weekend of summer.
Even though we don't use the day to celebrate labor any more, just the name of the day got me thinking on the subject. What do we labor for?
God created us to labor. He knew that work was an important part of our makeup, but he also recognized that too much work isn't a good thing either.
"Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
Exodus 20:8-11 NIVKing Solomon, a wiser man than I struggled with that issue of the meaning of our labours. He was a man who had seen it all, done it all and owned it all.
What does man gain from all his labor at which he toils under the sun? Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever. The sun rises and the sun sets, and hurries back to where it rises. The wind blows to the south and turns to the north; round and round it goes, ever returning on its course. All streams flow into the sea, yet the sea is never full. To the place the streams come from, there they return again. All things are wearisome, more than one can say. The eye never has enough of seeing, nor the ear its fill of hearing. What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.
Ecclesiastes 1:3-9 NIVWhile the writer starts out sound like he believes work is valueless, when we read on, we find out that's not the case at all. Later in the same book we some of his conclusions.
Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him--for this is his lot. Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work--this is a gift of God. He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart.
Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 NIVTo work (in whatever form that takes), is a gift from God. When you faced whatever work you must accomplish today, did you look at it as a gift from God or as a chore to be done? I confess that far too often I've looked at work from the wrong perspective. As I read the wise mans words, I was called to do a little repenting about my attitude.
All work has some value. It needn't be paid employment. Volunteer work is valuable. Work at home for the family has value. Just caring for people is work and has value. The work God has given us is His gift to us. It's only people who make the distinction between "important" and "unimportant" work. It doesn't matter if you're a teacher, a preacher, a doctor, a housewife, a laborer or a skilled tradesperson. Your work is a gift from God and is therefore valued in His eyes.
What ever our work, we're called to do it to the best of our abilities for the sake of God.
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 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 NIVCelebrate your labors today. They are a gift from God and the way you do them can be a gift to God.
Until next time, rejoice in your labor.
Hallelu Yah (Praise God)
Be blessed
Kevin
Never let the enemy tell you that you are worthless or insignificant. You have value in the eyes of God so great that it was worth dying for. You are a blessing to the world. You are so precious to God that heaven will not be complete without you.
HELP FOR THE HURTING
Sometimes, like Solomon, we wonder if there is any purpose or meaning to life. There is! God created each of us with specific and unique gifts, talents and jobs to do. He has an eternal plan for each of us.
How do we find that plan? We start be getting to know His Son Jesus Christ. It is only through Jesus that we can be forgiven our sin and reconciled to God. Once that has happened we can begin the journey to being all that He meant for us to be.
Will you start the journey today and give your heart to Jesus.
You can simply begin the relationship by honestly and completely opening your heart; admitting you need God's help; turning away from your sin and saying a prayer along the lines of the one below. There isn't any "magic" in the prayer; it's simply a way to open up to the gift that Jesus already bought for you with His very life. You can't earn it. You don't deserve it. He freely offers it to all who will accept it.
Jesus:
I have made many mistakes in my life and done things I am not proud of. I have sinned. I need your love and forgiveness. I believe that you came into this world and gave your life on a cross to pay for my sins and that you defeated death and rose again. Please forgive me, and be the Lord of my life. I give my life to you Lord.
Amen
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