No More Labor Day!

This weekend many will have a three-day weekend, receiving Monday off in order to celebrate Labor Day.  The day is meant to honor “the American labor movement and the contributions that workers have made to the strength, prosperity, laws and well-being of the country.” (Wikipedia) For most people, the day signifies the official end of the summer and is a reason for a day off from work.  Although I understand and appreciate the reason for the day, I really don’t like the word “labor” in its name. 

Think about it: the word labor rarely has a positive connotation.  It is one thing to say you are “going to work.”  It is another thing to say you are going to “labor.”  In fact, in the Bible the word is rarely used in a positive way.  When man was created and placed in the Garden of Eden he was told to “work it and take care of it.”  (Genesis 2:15)  The word for “work” implies receiving a return equal to or greater than one’s investment of time, energy, and effort.  We were created to work and thus receive a fruitful return.  Labor, however, was a result of man’s sin. Giving birth would become pain-filled labor for the woman.  Man’s working of the earth would become hard labor the earth itself would work against man’s efforts.  

Later on the writer of Ecclesiastes would cry out, “What do people gain from all their labors at which they toil under the sun?” (Ecclesiastes 1:3 – NIV)  and “So my heart began to despair over all my toilsome labor under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 2:20 – NIV)  Work has become labor in that too often what one invests of their time, energy and effort does not bring an equal or greater return.  And, that can be very frustrating and disheartening. 

Early on, however, God gives promises regarding our need to be relieved of our labor.  In Genesis 5, God prophetically sends a man named Noah (his name means “comfort”) saying that, “He will comfort us in the labor and painful toil of our hands caused by the ground the Lord has cursed.” Noah’s life was meant to be a sign of that which was yet to come. The Apostle Paul wrote, “Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:58 – NIV) Finally, in the book of Revelation we read, “Then I heard a voice from heaven say, ‘Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ‘Yes,’ says the Spirit, ‘they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.’”  (Revelation 14:13 – NIV)

God’s promise is that he will not allow our labor to go unrewarded. More than that, one day he will give us the comfort and rest for which we long.  Thus, let’s not allow ourselves to become overwhelmed, frustrated, and disheartened. Instead, let’s trust in the One who will take care of us both now and for all of eternity.  As Jesus said, “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.”  (Matthew 6:28-29 – NIV) 

One day there will be no more labor day(s)! Have a great day and a wonderful weekend!

Pastor Tim Harris