Labor Day…

Labor Day is a celebration recognizing the working man. It is celebrated on the first Monday of September and became a Federal holiday in 1894.

In the late 1800s, at the height of the industrial revolution, the average American worked twelve hours a day, seven days a week, to barely make a living. The working force consisting primarily of immigrants and the poor; all ages, including children as young as five and six, worked in factories and mines. The working conditions were cramped and unsafe, with insufficient access to fresh air, sanitary facilities, or breaks. In the late 18th Century, labor unions began to appear and became a voice for the working man. The extended weekend we celebrate today represents the rest that the unions brought for these abused human beings who shaped our country.

I thought it might be interesting today to see what God has to say about Labor!

Psalm 128:2 ESV “You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you.”

1 Timothy 5:18 ESV “For the Scripture says, ‘You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out grain,’ and ‘the laborer deserves his wages.”

1 Corinthians 3:8 ESV “He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor.”

Matthew 9:37-38 ESV “Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” Side note: The harvest are the unsaved and the laborers are you and me!

Exodus 20:9 ESV “Six days you shall labor, and do all your work.” Because on the seventh we are instructed to rest!

Matthew 11:28 ESV “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest!

Seems to me that the early standards of the labor unions were in tuned to the Lords instructions. We are to work hard when we work, we are to work as though we are working directly for God! We are also instructed to take a day of rest.

Genesis 2:2 NLT “On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work.”

I pray you have a blessed and restful day today! Sadly retail and sales-driven establishments have made the holiday of rest a holiday of sales, and for all of you working today, my heart goes out! For the rest of you, Be safe today and enjoy the sunshine…fall seems to be knocking loudly! Thank you for joining me. 🥰