Your Labor is Not in Vain
Labor Day weekend is upon us, and for probably a majority of people, the original purpose of this holiday is probably a little murky. For many, it’s the last chance for a short trip as summer wraps up; for others, it’s a weekend to catch up on tasks around the house and yard that were postponed during the fun of summer activities. We have the feeling that fall is really on the doorstep now – after all, September isn’t a summer month, and maybe you’ve noticed that the days are definitely getting shorter.
But (obviously!) this isn’t why Labor Day was created. By 1882, as our nation became more industrialized, union leaders of carpenters and machinists promoted the need for a holiday honoring the working men and women. Declared a national holiday in 1894, there were parades, picnics, and programs with speeches acknowledging the contributions of the workers of the nation to celebrate the day.
Looking through the Bible for references to working and laboring, we find that even the most humble occupation could be carried out to God’s glory. The son of a carpenter, Jesus was considered completely ordinary, and his teaching in the temple was not welcome until his listeners realized he spoke with authority. As he began his public ministry, Jesus called on fishermen and other working men to be his disciples, not the elite of the community. He needed followers who were strong and sturdy, loyal and dependable, who would work with him faithfully during his ministry and carry it forward after he returned to his Father.
Jesus used images of working in much of his teaching and preaching, illustrating his messages with everyday language that resonated with his listeners. The parables of planting and harvesting, of fishermen casting their nets, of stonemasons and builders, of shepherds caring for their flocks – all are used effectively to tell of God’s love and faithfulness for his people, and how together God’s people can build his kingdom.
The letters of Paul don’t sugar-coat the work required of the people in the churches being started. He does, however, encourage them, as in I Corinthians 15:58: “Therefore, my beloved, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” He also reminds them (and us) of how our different abilities can come together in the Lord’s service: “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord.” (I Corinthians 12:4-5) These varied gifts and the willingness to share them are what makes it possible for a church to grow in ministry and be strengthened in service.
We are blessed in so many ways, and many of us have abilities we don’t realize we have, but if we open ourselves to the possibility, take that little step forward and just give something a try, we might well discover something we didn’t know about ourselves!
Your friend in Christ,
Mary Rogers