Many in the United States of America are off work today due to Labor Day. In 1894, Labor Day became a federal holiday, which honors American workers. In addition, when some think of Labor Day in the 21st century, it is also a symbol of the end of summer. Therefore, it makes sense why many spend the holiday at the pool, lake or beach with family and/or friends, while others spend the day resting. It is a holiday where we get to enjoy fun and relaxing activities; and yet, its origin was anything but fun. On History.com Labor Day’s origin is described; it says,
“[Labor Day] originated during one of American labor history’s most dismal chapters. In the late 1800s, at the height of the Industrial Revolution in the United States, the average American worked 12-hour days and seven-day weeks in order to eke out a basic living. Despite restrictions in some states, children as young as 5 or 6 toiled in mills, factories and mines across the country, earning a fraction of their adult counterparts’ wages. People of all ages, particularly the very poor and recent immigrants, often faced extremely unsafe working conditions, with insufficient access to fresh air, sanitary facilities and breaks. As manufacturing increasingly supplanted agriculture as the wellspring of American employment, labor unions… They began organizing strikes and rallies to protest poor conditions and compel employers to renegotiate hours and pay.”
The difficult conditions these men, women, and children experienced at work led to them using their voices through protest, which was an important stepping-stone to changes in the workforce that impact us today.
As Christ followers, our labor is an opportunity we get to make an eternal impact. Labor is talked about in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. For this post, let us look at what the Apostle Paul writes about labor. He says, “Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58b).
The word “vain” in Greek is “kenos,” which means in this verse “metaphorically, of endeavors, labors, acts, which result in nothing, vain, fruitless, without effect.” When the Lord is leading us to labor, it will be fruitful. The fruit is both eternal and internal. The eternal fruit includes opportunities for you to be the Lord’s hands and feet in furthering His Kingdom by making disciples through the gifts, the talents, and the perspective He has given you at your job. The internal fruit includes embracing being sanctified even more by the Holy Spirit to become more like Christ through the job He has you positioned in now.
To close, below are three questions to ponder. Take the time to reflect on the questions with the Lord. Let the Lord open your eyes to see just how intentional He is with the labor He has given you in this chapter of your life.
1) What work is the Lord giving you to do in the waiting?
2) What is keeping you from fully committing to the work?
3) Do you believe the work you are doing for the Lord in the waiting is not in vain?
All Bible verses are from Holy Bible: New International Version