Labor Day was created as a way to acknowledge and pay tribute to the workforce for all they have done to make our country prosperous and strong.

Remember:

• We were created to work.

 Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work,  ….. (Exodus 20:9-10 ESV)

… aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, (1 Thessalonians 4:11 ESV)

Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us.  For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. (2 Thessalonians 3:6-8 ESV)

• Hard work is profitable

 Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense. (Proverbs 12:11 ESV)

In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty. (Proverbs 14:23 ESV)

The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labor. (Proverbs 12:24 ESV)

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 Corinthians 15:58 ESV)

• We should be working for the Lord.

 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands! (Psalm 90:17 ESV)

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. (Colossians 3:23-24 ESV)

Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in his ways!  You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you. (Psalm 128:1-2 ESV)

• Our work should benefit others.

 You yourselves know that these (Paul’s) hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me.  In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” (Acts 20:34-35 ESV)

• Our labor should be enjoyable.

 ….  also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God’s gift to man. (Ecclesiastes 3:13 ESV)

There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment? (Ecclesiastes 2:24-25 ESV)

Summary:

• We were created to work.
• Hard work is profitable
• We should be working for the Lord.
• Our work should benefit others.
• Our labor should be enjoyable.

Happy Labor Day

Click here to view previous posts on the Seeking His Kingdom website.

If you liked this post, share it with a friend.