1. Mankind was placed on this earth to labor. Laboring by mankind was first established in the Garden of Eden after God created man and placed him in the garden. Genesis 2:15 (ESV) states, "The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it." The taking care of the garden was the work God had for the man (Adam) to do. The garden no doubt produced fruit and I am sure Adam literally enjoyed the "fruits of his labor." The work Adam was performing however was not burdensome or grievous. This was a unique Garden in that it did not have any weeds. No weed picking or tending was necessary since these came after Adam's sin in this world. Adam simply had to till the Garden to enable to fruit to grow and then he had to take care of it as it grew. This type of work though is unimaginable to us today since we have never experienced anything perfect in this world. But Adam did and the work Adam was performing was joyous to the soul since he was in obedience to God and was thankful to work "with" God.
2. Laboring is still not a bad thing today, however the work we do deals with many other things Adam did not have to deal with initially. After Adam sinned, God came to him and his wife and declared consequences for their disobedience. For Adam, God specifically said in Genesis 3:17-19 (ESV):
Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.As you can see, the laboring Adam was initially accustomed to changed dramatically and forever. This is the type of work we are living with today. Although working is not a bad thing, many people act as if it is. One reason is due to the ground being "cursed." Now I realize not everyone works the fields as being discussed here in Genesis, however many people view working as a curse. Most people look for the day where they can lay back and retire. They dream about days where maybe they will win the lottery and not have to work like they do now. People dread "Mondays", are thankful for "Hump days" and are excited about "Fridays" (so much so the term "Thank God It's Friday" is prevalent). Many times people will complain they can't do certain things with family and friends because "they have to work."
Also, we see from these verses the difficulties associated with work today. "Thorns and thistles" came into existence to make working in the field harder and only "by the sweat of your face" shall one work to earn the bread so necessary for life. The similarities for "thorns and thistles" today would be any difficulty associated with completing your work successfully. It could be the task at hand, the conditions of which to complete the task, and even the people involved with the effort (whether directly or indirectly). Simply by these difficulties we experience the sweat of the face (whether literal or symbolic).
Although not always, but many times people view work negatively. This is because there is a "curse" that surrounds it now. None of us can escape this curse due to sin being in this world. How we respond to the "curse" surrounding work though is something we can control and need to be mindful of. Work in and of itself is not bad, but is a blessing from God. Dealing with the "curse" surrounding work can be endured by the Grace of God.
3. As mentioned at the beginning of the blog post, Labor Day "pays tribute to the contributions and achievements of American workers." This made me think about why people work and what people are working for. Most of the time, the reason given to work is "to provide for my family." This is true and necessary. Second Thessalonians 3:10-11 states, "For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat" and in First Timothy 5:8 states, "But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel." Working to provide for your family is honorable and a responsibility first to the man/husband/father and second to the woman/wife/mother. Both have their unique roles and responsibilities to provide for themselves, each other, their family and even their neighbor.
Another reason people give for working is to support their lifestyle. This can be good and bad. If the lifestyle is aligned Biblically and in accordance to the calling of God for your life, then that is a good thing. However if the lifestyle is not aligned Biblically or in accordance to the calling of God for your life, then that is not a good thing. As Christians, we should be examining our lifestyles continuously to determine if they are aligned with the Lord's will. Just because we can do something doesn't mean we should or is beneficial. Prayerfully considering what lifestyle the Lord is acceptable with is essential to any Christian's life.
A third reason people give for working is to achieve success in this world and to accumulate worldly possessions. This reason can be detrimental to the soul. Not merely because of success and material possessions, but rather the heart desire to achieve these things over more important things. Scripture warns us of the dangers associated with this reason for working. For example, Luke 12:13-21 describes the parable of the rich fool. Jesus clearly stated in verse 15, "Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." Coveting is desiring something so much you are willing to do just about anything to get it. An abundance of possessions is not a reason for working and can certainly cause someone to trust in the possessions more than in the God who ultimately provided/created them. But Jesus doesn't stop there, he continues in the following verses about a rich man who "produced plentifully" and decided to tear down his barns and build bigger to store up all his crops. The rich person then said to himself, "Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry." However Jesus replies to this mentality, "Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?"
Jesus was surely hitting on issues of the heart today just as back then. He knows what people really want and often times it's not Him. Jesus knows the lustful desires of the heart and that is why He is warning us about materialism. It's not a sin to have possessions, but if those possessions control your life, prevent you from serving God, and are the reason (or even a significant contributing reason) why you are working, then what you have essentially done is created an idol and are worshiping that versus God!
Jesus ended this parable by saying, "So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God." This reminded me of Matthew 6:19-20, which Jesus states, "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
4. Labor Day is a great day to reflect about why we work and be thankful to work. Working is the way we provide for ourselves, each other, our families and our neighbors. It is a blessing to be able to work. Even among the many forms of the "curse" surrounding work today (due to sin in this world), we can still endure by the grace of God. I would like to conclude though about a work that is greatly needed. If you desire to be successful merely in this world and your measure of success is what you have done in this world and for this world, I am sorry to say but it is all in vain. There is a greater work for a person to do. This work is one for the soul.
As Christians, we are called to make disciples. It is not a work just for recognized leaders in a church. It is for every child of God. Jesus speaks about a harvest that is plenteous but the laborers are few (Matthew 9:37-38). Jesus said that many would be called, but few would be chosen (Matthew 22:14). Jesus told us to pray for the laborers of the harvest. The harvest is here and now. Today is the day of salvation. This work is greatly needed and the rewards are eternal. The Bible says that there is rejoicing among the angels in Heaven when one sinner repents. Don't you want to be the person who contributes to that rejoicing!?!
As you take time to think about your labors today, think about how better you can labor for Jesus Christ. Laboring for the salvation of souls can be burdensome at times. Christians have an adversary called Satan and he will attempt anything to prevent you from delivering the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. However I am thankful for Jesus' words in Matthew 11:28-30: "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
No comments:
Post a Comment