A federal holiday since 1894, Labor Day is an annual recognition of the American labor movement and celebration of the economic and social achievements of American workers.  For many people, Labor Day means a long weekend, a family gathering, a cookout, or the unofficial end of summer.  But behind the holiday is something worth remembering: the value and dignity of work.

In Colossians 3:23-24, Paul says:

“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.”

You see, work is not a curse.  Work existed before sin entered the world.  When God created Adam and placed him in the Garden of Eden, God gave him a responsibility: “Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it.” (Genesis 2:15)

Adam had work to do before the fall of man in Genesis 3.  The curse did not introduce work.  The curse made work difficult.  That distinction is important, because God created us with a purpose.  He created us to accomplish things, to build, to cultivate, to provide, to serve, and to be productive.  So, whether you work with your hands, your mind, a computer, machinery, tools, people, children, customers, or a classroom, honest work has dignity because God Himself ordained work.

But Paul takes this truth one step further.  He doesn’t merely tell us to work.  He tells us how to work.  He says, “Whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.”

That gives us four important truths about work.

The first truth about work is that God expects us to work.  2 Thessalonians 3:10 says, “If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.”

The Bible has a very high view of honest labor.  From Genesis to Revelation, work is everywhere.  God worked in creation.  Adam worked in the Garden.  Noah worked for years building the ark.  Abraham worked with livestock.  Joseph worked in Egypt.  David worked as a shepherd before he became king.  Paul worked as a tentmaker.  And Jesus Himself worked as a carpenter.  Work is not beneath us.  Honest work is honorable.  When honest work is performed with integrity, it can become an avenue of service to God.

One reason God gives us work is so that we can provide for ourselves and our families.  Paul wrote, in 1 Timothy 5:8, “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”  Providing for our families is a biblical responsibility.

Most of us don’t think about it, but nearly everything we enjoy exists because someone worked to provide it – the food we eat, the houses we live in, the roads we drive on, the clothes we wear, the electricity we use, the vehicles we drive, and the technology we depend on.  Labor is one of God’s means of providing for society.  Sometimes the most valuable lesson a person can learn is simply this: if you want something done, you have to work for it.

The second truth about work is that God cares about how we work.  Paul doesn’t simply say, “Whatever you do, do it.”  He says, “Whatever you do, do it heartily.”  That means do it with sincerity, enthusiasm, and commitment.  In other words – don’t just show up, give your best.  There is a tremendous difference between doing a job and doing a job well.

A Christian should be known as someone who can be trusted, someone who is dependable, someone who works honestly, someone who doesn’t constantly complain, someone who doesn’t have to be watched every minute, and someone who does the right thing even when nobody is looking.  Why?  Because our work is ultimately a reflection of the One we serve.

If you’re a Christian, your employer isn’t the highest authority over your work.  Your ultimate Master is Jesus Christ.  Paul says, “as to the Lord and not to men.”  That’s a powerful statement, because ultimately, you work for the Lord.

The third truth about work is that God sees the work that others don’t see.  One of the hardest things about working is feeling unappreciated.  You work hard, but nobody notices.  You sacrifice, but nobody thanks you.  You stay late, but nobody acknowledges it.  You do the job correctly, but nobody says anything.  But there is Someone who sees it.  God sees.

Hebrews 6:10 says, “For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name.”  What an encouragement!  People forget, employers forget, coworkers forget, friends forget, and sometimes even family members forget.  But God doesn’t forget.  God sees everything you do, and He says, “I will not forget your work.”

The fourth truth about work is that our greatest work is the work we do for Christ.  Labor Day reminds us about our earthly work.  But there is a greater work – the work of the Lord.  Jesus said, in John 6:27, “Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life.”

There is nothing wrong with working for a paycheck.  We all have responsibilities, and we need to provide for our families – food, shelter, and clothing.  But ultimately, everything we work for in this world is temporary.  But the work we do for Christ has eternal significance.

What are you working for?  What are you trying to accomplish?  There is nothing wrong with ambition.  There is nothing wrong with success.  There is nothing wrong with making money.  There is nothing wrong with building something valuable.  But Jesus warned us, in Mark 8:36, “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?”

You can succeed at your career and fail at life.  You can have a successful business and a broken family.  You can have a large bank account and an empty heart.  You can achieve everything you wanted and discover that you were working for the wrong thing.  The greatest accomplishment in life isn’t what you build on earth. It’s what you do for eternity.

So don’t be afraid of hard work.  The Bible never promises that work will always be easy.  But it does teach us not to give up.  Paul says, in Galatians 6:9, “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”  That’s a principle for the workplace.  It’s also a principle for the Christian life.  You keep going because God is faithful, because eventually, the harvest comes.

But above all – make your life’s work count for eternity.  Because when everything else is finished, only what we have done for Christ will truly matter.  And when we stand before Him, may we hear those wonderful words: “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

In Christian Brotherhood,
James Bozeman

Texas Division Chaplain