But work is an honorable thing in God's sight. Colossians 3:23 (NIV) says, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward."
I love I Thessalonians 4:11-12 (NIV) "Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your own hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody." In chapter 5, verses 12-14 the Lord instructs us, "Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone."
Work that benefits others is an honorable thing. When one is focused on self, as King Solomon was in telling us how he felt in Ecclesiates, work is meaningless and unfulfilling.
Paul, through the Holy Spirit, writes in 2 Thessalonians 3:6-12 (NIV), "In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone's food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow. For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: 'If a man will not work, he shall not eat.'"
Moms, when you drive to your job one more day to endure office politics, or have courage to start a new business, remember why you do what you do. When you put that one more load of laundry into the washer, dust that furniture one more time, sweep and mop the floors, remember why you do what you do. When you prepare your thousandth meal, wash the dishes one more time, run those household errands, kneel beside a sick child's bed (again), when weariness and sleeplessness stalks you like an enemy, remember why you do what you do.
Dads, when you brave the ice and snow, fix that broken washer or dryer, take risks in starting a new business, mow the grass or take the car to the garage rather than sit down to watch TV, remember why you do what you do. When you take your family to church rather than sleep in, or help your child with homework instead of read the newspaper, remember why you do what you do. When you help your neighbor start his car or shovel a sidewalk packed with snow, even though you're tired, remember why you do what you do.
What's the point of work anyway? What's the big deal? Look at it this way: imagine that nobody in society did anything but just sat around and waited for someone else to do something useful. What kind of world would we have? When we do honorable work, we help society be stable and provide for the needs of others. We bless others, and in turn we bless our Creator God. God is a God of beauty and order. Our homes and communities should reflect that as well as our country.
It is only fitting that on Labor Day we pay tribute to those who work to make our country a better place to live. I salute those who have worked to increase the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our nation, the United States of America.
Copyright © 2012 Elaine Beachy
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