Labor Day
08.31.22
And the LORD God took the man, and put him in the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. (Genesis 2:15)
We will celebrate Labor Day next week. It is the official end to summer. Traditionally, school begins after Labor Day.
“Observed the first Monday in September, Labor Day is an annual celebration of the social and economic achievements of American workers, the contributions they make to America’s strength, prosperity, and well-being.” [US Department of Labor]
New York was the first state to introduce a bill for such a holiday, but Oregon was the first state to pass such a law in 1887. It was in 1894 that Congress recognized the first Monday in September as a legal holiday.
People, of course, have varied feelings about labor unions. But whatever our opinions, it is good to recognize the work of our fellow-citizens that has contributed to making our nation’s economy strong, and the envy of the world.
Work is good! It was devised by God in the Garden of Eden even before Man fell into sin. Adam was commanded to dress and keep the garden, no doubt with the help of Eve. While sin has made work more difficult, this should neither cancel the necessity nor eliminate the joy of working.
Scripture has much to say about labor. The sleep of a laboring man is sweet (Ecclesiastes. 5:12). The laborer is worthy of his hire (Luke 10:7). Instead of resorting to theft, we are to work with our hands so we can give to the needs of others (Ephesians 4:28). We are to study to be quiet, do our own business, and work with our own hands. (1 Thessalonians 4:11)
Man was made to work. The major problem that this produces is that man has the notion that he must work for his salvation. Because of God’s anger with him for his sin, man feels he must do something to please God.
We see this reflected in the Word of God. After the feeding of the five thousand, the crowd asked Jesus, “What shall we do that we might work the works of God?” The people on the Day of Pentecost asked Peter and the other Apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” The Philippian jailer cried out to Paul and Silas, “What must I do to be saved?”
Here are the answers to these three questions in turn: “Jesus answered and said unto them, ‘This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he has sent.” (John 6:29) “Then Peter said unto them, ‘Repent.’” (Acts 2:38) And they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and ye shall be saved, and your house.” (Acts 16:31)
Man has been ‘hot-wired’ by God to work. This impels him to think that he must do something to be saved. But the Bible clearly declares that salvation is by faith alone, through Christ alone. It is as we repent of our sins, and place our faith in Christ’s finished work that we are forgiven of our sin. Our hope is in Christ alone, and the work He did on the cross. He shed His blood, died in our place, and is risen again for our justification.
Dear friend, no doubt you are looking forward to a long weekend. Before that time comes, please, consider what has been said. Come to the Savior. Forsake your own feeble efforts to wash away your sin, and look to the Lamb of God. All those who come to Him, He will in no way cast out!