LABOR DAY FOR GOD

     It’s Labor Day in A Friendly Shade!  What better time than now to review what the scriptures say about labor.

     From the beginning of time when Adam and Eve first sinned, man was given a requirement to work.  “Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.”  Because of the people in this great land who are willing to work and who are willing to put God first, a prosperous nation has risen.  This is the perfect day to say "Thank you" to all those willing to work in the job positions we are so blessed to have available, and to those who are talented enough to create new industry that provides jobs in the workforce.   
     The following are just a few of the scriptures given regarding our requirement to work.

   

Genesis 2:15  And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and keep it.

Genesis 3:19  In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken; for dust thou art, and unto dust thou return.

Proverbs 13:11 Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase. 

Proverbs 14:23 In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.

Ecclesiastes 5:12 The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.

Ecclesiastes 9:10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all your might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest. 

Ephesians 4:28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

1 Thessalonians 4:11-12  And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing. 

2 Thessalonians 3:12 Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread. 

1 Timothy 5:18  For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.

     Not only are we given a requirement to work for our livelihood, but our work should be a work for the Lord.  Our work may not be able to seen with the naked eye, but God knows what is in the heart and He sees all.
     Being able to look back on the day and know we treated someone well, prayed for someone, did a good deed, gave of our wealth to the needy, or just performed some simple act to show a labor of love for God is a very rewarding fulfillment.

John 6:27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. 

Acts 20:35  I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

1 Thessalonians 4:11-12  And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing. 

2 Timothy 4:5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.  

     God, in His awesome wisdom and love did give us a reprieve from labor even by His own example.  “Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.  And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.”
     I believe we all need to be reminded of these instructions, especially myself.   Our day of rest should be the perfect day to read and think on God’s Word and use the time to praise and honor Him. 

Exodus 20:9  Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:

Exodus 20:10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:

Exodus 12:12 Six days thou shalt do thy work, and on the seventh day thou shalt rest: that thine ox and thine ass may rest, and the son of thy handmaid, and the stranger, may be refreshed.

Leviticus 23:3 Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings.

The Red Carpet Fashion Police

     It was a hot morning but also the last workday of August, and I was dressed in pastel linen.  As I sat in “A Friendly Shade” drinking my first cup of coffee listening to the sound of some wild turkeys gobbling in the woods beyond, it suddenly dawned on me that next week would be Labor Day and September.  “Hmmm,” I thought, “is it time to purge my closet and put these light colored linens I am wearing away?”  I grabbed my cell phone and sent that question out to my Facebook friends.  These are the answers I got.

        “That rule is a million years old.  Retire it the end of September.”

        “I am going to wear white till it gets cool.”
        “September is usually hotter than August. Keep cool and forget the fashion police.”
        “If it still feels nice while wearing it, and you feel pretty in it, I say wear it.”

     Not completely satisfied that I had the correct answers, I quickly went to the web search and received all kinds of comments, from when to wear light or dark colored clothes, open-toed or closed-toed shoes to even tips on seasonal nail and lip colors with the majority of comments stating, “No whites after Labor Day but can wear white after Easter.”

     Needless to say, there were no truly correct answers.  A lot just depends on the weather and where you live.  Even many fashion designers are rebutting the rules. 
     Considering more about the “fashion police,” I thought, "There has got to be something I can wear year-long that will not subject you to the “red carpet” critics."   
     I hurriedly ran to my closet and selected a colorful dress to match the personality that God gave only to me.  It was simple, yet fashionable, and which adequately covered all the important parts, but yet revealing enough to show a heart filled with the Holy Spirit.  Next, I pulled out a matching pair of shoes which I could walk in comfortable, without stumbling, and heels I could walk in fearlessly, hand in hand, with God.  I ran to the mirror to check my smile.  I wanted one showing happiness, peace, and contentment.  Satisfied, I sprayed on a splash of Euphoria, a fragrant steadfast scent which filled the air, reminding me of the steadfast, dynamic, and powerful love of God who is never changing throughout any season.  But I also had to have accessories!  I was missing my jewels, sparkling with faith and joy.  After adding those, I grabbed a hat embellished with truth and honesty, then a matching purse filled with the fruit of friendliness and good labor for others.  I thought I was, indeed, ready for the "red carpet" walk when I spotted a pair of dress gloves.  Oh yes, I needed those too!  They were my fingers of helpfulness and sharing.  Holding them in my hand next to the strap on my shoulder bag, I again viewed myself in the mirror.  I straightened my pose and thought, "Yes! This ensemble should take me from spring and summer on into fall and winter.  If not, to heck with the fashion police of the day.  Only God is the anchor I must satisfy."   In my way of thinking, "I am properly dressed, glamorous enough, and fearlessly ready to take that successful step, with God by my side, out onto the "red carpet"  of life."


     

 

Labor Day - A Restful Holiday

     Labor Day is a United States Federal Holiday designated by man for  the contributions made by men to the labor force.  Those who are able and those who choose to work as God intended without depending on others to take care of them, gladly take this day off from their jobs, but it is not necessarily a day of rest.  We often find some other form of work that keeps us busy.   We are so busy being busy we forget some very important issues in life.

      It is the same on Sundays.  We are so busy being busy we forget about God.  On the seventh day God ended His work and He rested.  He actually blessed the seventh day and declared it a day of rest.  Sunday is our weekly Labor Day that was designated by God.  But do we take the time needed for the important things in life? Do we slow our pace and rest?  Do we take time to worship God and talk with Him? 
     Even in the very early days people were busy being busy.  Martha was very busy when Jesus went to visit her.  She wanted her home to be clean and neat.  She wanted the dinner prepared just right.  When her sister, Mary didn’t help her, Martha became fretful and started complaining.  Yet, Mary chose to take a “Labor Day” off from work.  She chose to sit at Jesus’ feet and spend time with Him.  She chose to listen to His Word and His teaching.  
     I wish I could say I was like Mary, but I must be honest and admit that I am more like Martha.  I am just like most people. I am busy being busy; although, I do have my preferences.  After a week sitting behind a desk, I am ready for some manual labor.  I actually enjoy it! That probably accounts for why my daughter presented me with a sign that read, "A day in the garden is better than any day in the mall."  Don't get me wrong.  I do enjoy shopping, but that can be tiresome and laborious, too. Regardless of which activity I chose, I am still busy being busy.   
     This Labor Day we need to remember Jesus’ answer to Martha, “Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: but one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:41-42

Labor Day Devotional Thought

Labor Day has been observed for so many years most people don’t even know why.  According to Wikipedia the first big Labor Day in U.S.A was observed on Sept. 5, 1882 by the Central Labor Union  of New York.  It became a federal holiday in 1894, following the deaths of a number of workers at the hands of the U.S. military & U.S. Marshals during the Pullman Strike under the presidency of Grover Cleveland.  Fearing further conflict with the labor union, legislation, making Labor Day a national holiday, was rushed through Congress & signed into law a mere six days after the end of the strike.

 My pastor talked more on work today which gave me pause for thought.  The Bible instructs people to stay busy, to work and earn the bread they eat.  There are those who are unwilling to work but all too willing to accept free handouts.  Then there are those who do nothing but work.  As we stop and think about the work we do, remember that our work is not only to provide for our families and to have the luxuries of life, but, rather, work for the service of God.  Our work is never finished for God.  There was a free handout given for all but, so often, this is the one free handout that is rejected by man.  This free handout of Salvation was given with love.  We can’t earn it.  It is by grace that we receive the free gift of Salvation.   

   
     Jesus did the work for which He was sent
     To save His people was God’s intent.
     God allowed the torture and watched as Jesus died.
     It was for all mankind, nationwide.