A Closer Walk
This coming Monday, September 6, is Labor Day. A day which our country sets aside to recognize all the hard working people in our country, and the work that they do. Without them society and commerce would come to a screeching halt. To illustrate, imagine we as a society decide to take one day and give everyone that day off. So what would we do? Well, we have this one day so let's go to the movies. Sorry, the movie theater is closed because everyone who works there has the day off. Then let's go shopping. Sorry, the stores are closed because everyone has the day off. Well let's just gas up the car and go for a drive. Sorry, the gas station is closed because everyone has the day off. Okay, so we won't go anywhere but we will have a family day and play badminton in the back yard. OH! Jimmie fell and sprained his ankle so he needs to go to the Hospital Emergency Room. Sorry, the Hospital is closed because everyone has the day off. Society and commerce has come to a halt. Not a pretty picture, huh?
Each and every person who has a job of some kind contributes to our society. No matter whether the job provides a paycheck or is volunteer work. Every single job contributes to our society in some way and builds up the people who live in the society. Whether we are building helicopter transmissions or cooking in the kitchen of a fine dining restaurant the consumers of what we produce benefit from our efforts. Solomon tells us how to approach working. "Whatever your hand finds to do, verily, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol where you are going," Ecclesiastes 9:10 NASB. In this context Sheol likely means the grave. Do it with all your might. Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might. Dishwasher in the kitchen of a restaurant? Do it with all your might. A custodian working in one of our schools? Do it with all your might.
The New Testament tells us the same thing. "Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve," Colossians 3:23-24 NASB. Do our work heartily. As for the Lord rather than for men. Why? Because it is the Lord Christ whom we serve.
Work is its own reward. Working gives us something to do and somewhere to belong. Work challenges our minds and utilizes our God-given abilities. Whether we are working at the Blade-Empire publishing a newspaper three times a week, or working at the Post Office processing the mail we are benefiting society. But there is something in it for us also. If we are working at a job that produces a paycheck we are rewarded each and every payday. If we are performing volunteer work then we are rewarded emotionally or spiritually. Volunteering to read to children at the library would be very rewarding, but wouldn't produce a paycheck.
Here is a message from God spoken through Moses to the nation of Israel at the end of Moses's ministry. "The Lord will open for you His good storehouse, the heavens, to give rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hand..." Deuteronomy 28:12 NASB. Our God tells the ancient Israelites, and us as well, that He will bless the work of our hands. How does he do that? Ever gotten a raise? Ever received a bonus? Perhaps the crop land produced a few extra bushels per acre. Maybe the price of cattle is up. Our God in heaven has a multitude of ways to bless the work of our hands. But even if He doesn't, work is its own reward. Work is its own reward.
"There shall be showers of blessing: This is the promise of love; There shall be seasons refreshing, Sent from the Savior above. Showers of blessing, Showers of blessing we need: Mercy-drops round us are falling, But for the showers we plead." Words by Daniel “D. W.” Webster Whittle 1840-1901, music by James McGranahan 1840-1907.