On Monday, America celebrates another Labor Day and recognizes the unofficial end of summer. The three day weekend provides one last opportunity for picnics and getaways before the fall stretch until Thanksgiving.
This holiday grew out of the industrial revolution of the late 1800s as unions organized and fought for the rights of workers. It became a federal holiday in 1894 but was already recognized by thirty different states who understood the value of laborers.
Labor itself has become somewhat of a dirty word these days as we seek to minimize exertion and maximize leisure. But we must never underestimate this important American value. Hard work and earnest effort began at home and on the farm and later built this nation into what it is today. It continues to be one of our nation’s greatest assets.
Christians should also recognize the value of labor and serve our employers faithfully. Colossians 3:23-24 instructs us, “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. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”
This Scripture elevates our labor to a much higher level as we begin to understand Whom we are really working for. Although we may be answerable to our immediate supervisors, we are ultimately accountable to Someone much greater! This should impact not only the honesty and integrity of our labor but also its quality.
Whether singing opera for royalty or fixing leaky sewer lines in a basement crawl space, we understand that all jobs are holy vocations in which we can glorify God. Too often, small mindedness prevents us from doing our best since we fail to comprehend our true Client and Boss and thereby diminish our heavenly reward.
When Michelangelo painted frescos on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, some critics questioned his attention to detail even in hidden corners where human eyes could not observe his artwork. “No one will ever see them,” they counseled. The famous artist wisely responded, “God will.”
The perspective of this incredibly gifted individual reminds us all of our responsibility to serve well no matter our particular assignment. Perhaps it was this insight that motivated God to entrust Michelangelo with such amazing talent. Although no human being may ever see or appreciate the detail on our quarterly report or the precision of our wheel alignments, God is watching and will reward each of us according to our labors (I Corinthians 3:8).
Sadly, a National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health report indicates that workplace unhappiness affects one in four Americans and problems related to our jobs generate more health complaints than other life stresses including family and finances. Another study reveals that one third of us hate our jobs.
Many believe that the solution to such woes is finding the “right” job. Although it is important to match our God-given abilities with our occupations, many times our dissatisfactions at work have nothing to do with that at all. Rather, we can’t get along with superiors or coworkers, or in some cases, we just don’t like to work. Someone has observed that far too many stop looking for work as soon as they find a job.
Since no employer is ever perfect and since all jobs include distasteful elements, many times the solution is not endlessly job-hopping until we find the perfect job, but switching our attitude to that of Paul who gave thanks in all circumstances. I know that’s easier said than done and I know Paul didn’t work for your boss. But he knew that all occupations and employers have their downsides as well as their benefits.
As we celebrate Labor Day this weekend, let’s thank God for the jobs we have and endeavor to adopt the same attitudes of both Paul and Michelangelo and do all we do to the glory of God whether it’s ever seen or honored on earth or not.
Happy Labor Day, George