Labor Day

This weekend we celebrated what is called “Labor Day.” In some ways, this holiday is misnamed since most of us will do anything but labor during this weekend. The United States Department of Labor defines this holiday as “Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.” While we recognize the labor of the American workforce and the accomplishments down through the years I would like to look at a Biblical view of the labor put forth by man and how God views our efforts.
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Due to sin entering the world through the disobedience of Adam and Eve God placed mankind in a position where we must labor or work to exist. In Genesis 3:17 “And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life.” Not only did mankind must work to exist but God cursed the ground or in other words made it less receptive to man’s touch. This passage goes on to say that “in sorrow” we must toil. No wonder we call it work!

So, what is the result of our labor? Clearly, we can look around and see what we have gotten with the work we do and the paycheck it brings. All we have will someday perish though. What we do for God is all that will last. In 1st Corinthians 15:58 “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” While we must labor and work to take care of ourselves and our families we should not allow our earthly labor to overshadow our heavenly labor. Enjoy your coffee!

Love you all,
Pastor Gary