I’ve always been struck by the amusing irony of having a holiday called Labor Day where one was not supposed to be working. Curious on what the origins of the holiday were, I quickly browsed the Internet and learned that the holiday originated in Canada where parades held in support of Canadian labor movements led to an annual celebration. Inspired Americans began organizing “labor days.” This idea slowly filtered out to other states throughout the years until 1894 when President Grover Cleveland put reconciliation with Labor as a top political priority after a major strike that resulted in the deaths of a number of workers at the hands of the U.S. military. Fearing further conflict, legislation making Labor Day a national holiday was rushed through Congress unanimously and signed into law a mere six days after the end of the strike.
On their website, the U.S. Department of Labor describes the rationale of Labor Day as such: “The vital force of labor added materially to the highest standard of living and the greatest production the world has ever known and has brought us closer to the realization of our traditional ideals of economic and political democracy. It is appropriate, therefore, that the nation pay tribute on Labor Day to the creator of so much of the nation’s strength, freedom, and leadership – the American worker.”
Lately, with the ongoing recession and high unemployment, people of this generation are starting to understand much more deeply–if they didn’t before–the value of work and of workers in this country that we live in. The Department of Labor has it right. It’s not just about working for wages; it’s about working for the betterment of oneself and the world through work because work for work’s sake is worthless. Solomon writes this poetically in the book of Ecclesiastes: “What does the worker gain from his toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on men. I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil–this is the gift of God” (Ecclesiastes 3:9-10, 12-13).
With the variety upon variety of all sorts of jobs, the best labor we can do is that of proclaiming loudly the Good News. Paul writes in Colossians 1:28-29, “We proclaim Him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all His energy, which so powerfully works in me.”
So this weekend, don’t let Labor Day be just a special day to denote the end of the summer and a good weekend for sales. Think and meditate on the blessings, both financially and professionally, that God has given us through our skills and jobs; how we can, in turn, bless the world through working on spreading the Gospel; remembering those who are struggling without jobs; and finally thanking God that we are able to enjoy our work.
“A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?” –Eccelesiastes 2:24-25
– Matt
blessingsColossiansEcclesiastesenjoyLabor Daywork
Labor Day
September 3, 2009
Calvary
Comments Off on Labor Day
Matt
I’ve always been struck by the amusing irony of having a holiday called Labor Day where one was not supposed to be working. Curious on what the origins of the holiday were, I quickly browsed the Internet and learned that the holiday originated in Canada where parades held in support of Canadian labor movements led to an annual celebration. Inspired Americans began organizing “labor days.” This idea slowly filtered out to other states throughout the years until 1894 when President Grover Cleveland put reconciliation with Labor as a top political priority after a major strike that resulted in the deaths of a number of workers at the hands of the U.S. military. Fearing further conflict, legislation making Labor Day a national holiday was rushed through Congress unanimously and signed into law a mere six days after the end of the strike.
On their website, the U.S. Department of Labor describes the rationale of Labor Day as such: “The vital force of labor added materially to the highest standard of living and the greatest production the world has ever known and has brought us closer to the realization of our traditional ideals of economic and political democracy. It is appropriate, therefore, that the nation pay tribute on Labor Day to the creator of so much of the nation’s strength, freedom, and leadership – the American worker.”
Lately, with the ongoing recession and high unemployment, people of this generation are starting to understand much more deeply–if they didn’t before–the value of work and of workers in this country that we live in. The Department of Labor has it right. It’s not just about working for wages; it’s about working for the betterment of oneself and the world through work because work for work’s sake is worthless. Solomon writes this poetically in the book of Ecclesiastes: “What does the worker gain from his toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on men. I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil–this is the gift of God” (Ecclesiastes 3:9-10, 12-13).
With the variety upon variety of all sorts of jobs, the best labor we can do is that of proclaiming loudly the Good News. Paul writes in Colossians 1:28-29, “We proclaim Him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all His energy, which so powerfully works in me.”
So this weekend, don’t let Labor Day be just a special day to denote the end of the summer and a good weekend for sales. Think and meditate on the blessings, both financially and professionally, that God has given us through our skills and jobs; how we can, in turn, bless the world through working on spreading the Gospel; remembering those who are struggling without jobs; and finally thanking God that we are able to enjoy our work.
“A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?” –Eccelesiastes 2:24-25
– Matt
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blessingsColossiansEcclesiastesenjoyLabor Daywork