Labor Day is New Years

Did you labor on Labor Day?   Most of us didn’t birth a baby today but many  enjoyed a day off from the job.  That’s how Americans typically celebrate work, by getting a holiday.  Labor Day also marks an end to summer vacation season and begins fall activity.  As a teacher, the Labor Day holiday will forever mean Back to School for me, a sort of New Years!

Is work really something to celebrate?  YES.  God gave us work.  First, He modeled work as He created the universe.  Then He tasked His human creation with work, the work of cultivating God’s garden and subduing the rest of creation.  (Read about these events in Genesis 1 and 2) But then the events of Genesis 3 unfold, and the perfect earth is corrupted.  Work is corrupted too.  Work doesn’t become bad, but it becomes difficult.  Mankind will toil and sweat to get things done.

We live in life after Eden:  our work results in challenge, challenge beyond the physical to mental and emotional challenge.  Work is still good and a gift from God, but it is hard.

Americans have historically valued hard work, understanding that it supplies needed income and provides personal satisfaction.  Jobs keep us busy and are a wise use of time keeping us away from activity that is unhealthy or dangerous.  Overworking, greed, and other sins including lying or stealing, beset some workers but God’s ideal for work is inherently good, just as His work in creation was good.

Excuse the pun, but the American work ethic may be shifting.  Most of us have experienced the worker shortage.  Entry level work and beginner wages are questioned or rejected.  I think there are misunderstandings about achievement and prosperity and how success is attained.  As employees or business patrons, we can encourage workers to strive for success and promotion.  We can acknowledge a job well done and tip generously.  Dream jobs are just that but visualizing advancement through career planning and training can open doors ahead.  Talking with young workers helps them dream real possibilities.  The Bible says, “The worker deserves his wages.” (1 Timothy 5:18) The truth is two-fold:  work must be done and wages must be paid. Happy Labor Day!

Author: Brenda Proulx

Wife, mother and grandmother, educator and someone who thinks about the things I observe. I am the daughter of a writer; my dad's career was in the field of journalism. More significantly, I am God's child, a person believing in Jesus Christ and in His timeless Word. Blogging is new to me but I feel like I've always had a pen in my hand. I jot notes in my planner, mark papers, underline verses, write many letters, and occasionally draft articles for work or church. When I am not holding a pen, I am probably cuddling a mug of coffee. View all posts by Brenda Proulx