I hope everyone is having a good Labor Day.  It’s a chance for maybe the last big family picnic, outing on the lake, or a 3 day weekend trip. The dictionary says Labor Day is in recognition of “working” people.”  I woke up this morning with the thought of what does God say about labor or  work?  So let’s see where He leads us. 

Deuteronomy 5:13-14  

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, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your ox, your donkey or any of your animals, nor the alien within your gates, so that your manservant and maidservant may rest, as you do.

When I was growing up just about every business was closed on Sunday.  It was a day for church, Sunday dinner, and sitting on the porch in the afternoon.  I remember seeing my Sunday School teacher Grandmother sitting on her swing under her sycamore tree on Sunday afternoon reading her Bible.  She was one who truly believed the Word of God and did her best to obey it. We lived in an old coal mining town double house–her on one side and us on the other. It was the only remaining house of what once was a little mining community. Anyway, back to the Sabbath.  I remember hearing my Mother telling my Dad to be sure to get the grass cut before Sunday because he couldn’t cut it on Sunday out of respect for Grandma.  Those were such good God fearing days in this country. I noticed that the verses above make reference to your “manservant or maidservant”.  That’s one of the reasons I love Chick-Fil-A.  They are closed on Sunday to allow their employees (maid and manservants)  to be with their families and it is a very successful company operating six days a week. As a matter of fact I believe they are being blessed because of this policy and none of the employees have to give up their day of worship. I applaud them greatly.

2 Thessalonians 3:7

For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: If a man will not work, he shall not eat.

I have to grin a little about this one because once again when I was young this was something you heard all the time.  “No work, no eat.”  Sounds kind of like a cliche’ but my Father and Grandmother lived by this rule and they gave me very good work ethics.  I was anxious to get out of high school and begin to take care of myself.  In many ways I saw it as a burden off of my parents who still had other children to care for.  I thank them for giving me these work ethics.  They were both very hard workers with respect for their employers.  I don’t know when the attitude of  “it’s owed to me” began but as you see inferior products and corners cut for profit you see what has happened since this country has begun to leave God out of the picture more and more.  It has caused injury and death in many cases.

Colossians 3:23

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.

I’m sure my Grandmother had to be reminded of this verse many times through those 40 years she scrubbed floors on her knees while working as a housekeeper at a local hospital.  Her husband left her in the 40’s with three children and with no support. He was an alcoholic.  I never knew him even though he was my Grandfather.  So Grandma was one of the early examples of what they now throw around so much–the  “single mom”.  I myself had to refer to this verse after working for 29 years for a well known overnite air express company who cut corners in manhours as much as possible, On the days I felt neck and back pain while lifting and throwing heavy boxes and doing entry work as fast as I could on the computer this verse gave me strength to continue.  I was working for the Lord–not men and He saw and knew.  Many times I’ve thought about this when in this poor economy so many people losit almost all of their 401’s but He sent me someone who told me where to put my401 and I lost zero. I truly believe God will bless and I praise Him every day for that. Even with the impairments and pain  I have in my body now from this hard work I know that He will provide all my needs.

So today as you celebrate Labor Day say a prayer for all the laborers in this country. Pray that this country will return all their work back to this country so our people can have an honest  job and also pray that the once strong work ethics and integrity of this  country, the “United” States of America” will be revived in Jesus name.