Labor Day is a public national
holiday celebrated on the first Monday in September in the United States. More than 80 other countries celebrate it in
May and call it by a different name. In
the late 19th century trade unions and labor movements proposed that
a day be set aside to celebrate labor.
Oregon was the first state to make it an official public holiday in 1887
and by 1894 it became an official federal holiday. Labor Day has been called the “unofficial end
of summer” and marks the beginning of many fall activities.
Without delving into the activities
or the need for labor unions, I do think it is appropriate for us to recognize
that God has always sanctioned honorable labor.
Prior to man’s fall in the Garden of Eden, God instructed him to “work it and keep it” (Gen. 2:15,
ESV). When God gave the 10 commandments
to Moses on Mt. Sinai, He said that the Israelites were to work six days out of
the week and rest one (Ex. 20:8-11). In
so doing, He did limit the duration of physical labor, for everyone needs a
break.
There are some benefits that can be
derived from physical labor. For one,
labor stimulates the mind and body.
Without such stimulation, the mind would become idle and the body
weakened. This would provide a fertile
playground for satanic activity. The
familiar saying is true, “An idle mind is
the devil’s workshop.” On at least
two occasions the apostle Paul warned of the consequences of idleness. He said that if a person does not provide for
his family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever (1 Tim.
5:8). He further said, “If anyone is not willing to work, let him
not eat” (2 Thess. 3:10). In the
next two verses, he spoke of those who, because of idleness, were busybodies
rather than productive workers earning their own living.
While labor stimulates the mind and
body, it also relaxes them to the point that it makes sleep sweeter. Solomon said, “Sweet is the sleep of a laborer, whether he eats little or much…”
(Eccl. 5:12).
Paul sums it up well in two
passages: 1) “Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest
work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in
need” (Eph. 4:28); 2) “Therefore, my
beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the
Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain” (1 Cor. 15:58).
The annual Labor Day holiday is a
time of parades, picnics, family gatherings, cookouts, relaxation, etc. On this day we can pause and thank God for
our jobs and the ability to perform them.
I hope you have had a great Labor Day!
