Labor Day

​Labor Day is a holiday celebrated in America the first Monday in September.  It is unclear who first conceived of this day but for over 100 years it has served as a tribute and dedication to the social and economic achievements of American workers.   Regardless of what country we live in, work is an important facet of our everyday lives.  

As I reflect on work in Scripture, here are some thoughts to consider:
I.  Our work comes from God.  
   A.  He is the work originator--Gen.2:2--“By the seventh day God completed His work that He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work that He had done.”
   B.  He has a universal work plan--John 4:34--“My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work,” Jesus told them.Jesus worked the plan God had for Him.  We ought to do the same.
   C.  We need to understand what He would have us do--Ephesians 5:15,17b--“Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk—not as unwise people but as wise. . .  So don’t be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” Our work should fit God’s plan.  Our plan should fit God’s work.  Four principles will help us in determining and following God’s will:

• Worship leads to direction—Acts 13:2. The key to finding His will is found in worshiping Him.  Plenty of people are happy to tell you what they think you should or should not do.  Never settle for opinions that come minus prayerful seeking and humble worship. When God sets you apart or calls you to a work, whether it be sweeping floors or leading a corporation, don’t second guess Him, and don’t sell Him short, get after it.  God can take what we think is mundane and make it marvelous. 
• Empowerment comes through Christ—Philippians 4:13                         
• Beware of substituting activity for abiding. Watchman Nee once wrote, “To have God do his own work through us, even once, is better than a lifetime of human striving.”  Someone once said, “Activity itself proves nothing: the ant is praised, the mosquito swatted.”  Andrew Murray noted, “Do not confound work and fruit. There may be a good deal of work for Christ that is not the fruit of the heavenly Vine.”
• Our will is subordinate to God’s will.  Many people are spiritually unproductive because they refuse what God would have them do to pursue what they would rather do.  

 
II.   Our work should be God-pleasing.
      A.   It should be honorable—Tit.3:1—“Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work.”
     B.   We should be wholehearted—Col. 3:23,24—“Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically, as something done for the Lord and not for men, knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord. You serve the Lord Christ.”
“Every job is a self-portrait of the person who does it.  Autograph your work with excellence.”—Unknown
       C.   He will test what we have done—1 Co. 3:13-15--Each one’s work will become obvious, for the day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire; the fire will test the quality of each one’s work.  If anyone’s work that he has built survives, he will receive a reward.  If anyone’s work is burned up, it will be lost, but he will be saved; yet it will be like an escape through fire.”

May I ask you a question? Are you writing in the sand?  Will you work be washed away by the tide because it is from the flesh?  Or are you writing on the Rock?  Will your work be a testimony to the One who loves you and called you according to His purpose?  Something to think about . . . in reveration!  
 
©2004 Daniel York  ARR.  Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box. Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)