Work with heart and hands.

Here’s the U.S. Department of Labor’s official tribute to U.S. workers on Labor Day:

“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 pays tribute on Labor Day to the creator of so much of the nation’s strength, freedom, and leadership — the American worker.”

"Labor Day was a part of the labor movement dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It wasn't always a day for fun and sun. The first Labor Day was celebrated on Tuesday September 5th, 1882 and was a tribute to the contributions of everyday workers toward the strength, prosperity and well-being of our country." (Byron Robinson, Ph.D. author/writer)

Labor Day was made a federal holiday on June 28, 1894 by President Grover Cleveland. Do we even notice the reason for the holiday?

Labor Day is important because it honors those men and women who helped make our country what it is today. Although many dislike the taste of the labor unions, the unions were created to take care of the welfare of workers. Although higher pay is cited most often, when we speak of labor unions -- the initial goal was to assure that conditions such as the expectation of reasonable hours, pay and fair treatment of workers, was in place.

Our fast-paced society seems to have developed different views toward jobs than it previously did. Often, people attempt to work beyond their capacity and stay at the job site too long. We feel that, working long hours, shows ambition, energy and a good work ethic. We spend valuable time away from our families, so we can maintain a particular living-standard. We can forget how to relax and what we are like, within. Sometimes work becomes so important that we become imprisoned in the routine and performance of it. It's commendable to like what you do, but often, prompting ourselves to be busy constantly, is psychically and mentally unhealthy.

On the other side of the coin are those that look for any means they can, to shun labor. They look for ways to get out of work. Understanding the true meaning of Labor Day is a tool through which we can see the importance of our ability to work. Not only is our ability to work a blessing, but our skills are necessary cogs in the wheel of survival. We need to block off time to enjoy relationships with other people and family, without feeling guilty. Balance is the key and it's good to set aside a time, regularly, to recall our achievements, and reflect on what we've done to make the world a better place.

Billy Graham, evangelist, wrote "Our work was never meant to become the center of our lives. That place belongs only to God. Someone who brags about working 70 or 80 hours a week probably thinks he is the master of the job, but in reality he has become its slave."

Again, balance is the key.

Indeed, the work we do is a very important part of our life. So, I want to look at a couple of Scriptures this morning that deal with work.

The first one is Colossians 3:23-24. "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving."

Someone has written that there are 4 kinds of bones in the world:

WISH BONES who spend their time wishing someone else would do the work.

JAW BONES who do all the talking, but very little else.

KNUCKLE BONES who knock everything that anyone else is trying to do.

& BACK BONES who shoulder the load & actually do the work.

We come to church on Sunday & we are influenced by the values & commands of God. But when we go to work on Monday we are influenced by the values & rules of man. We are trying to live under two distinct authorities that are often in conflict with one another.

It seems that Paul is saying that these worlds do not have to be in conflict, because the work that we do should not be done just for men but rather it ought to be done as if for God.

So, as we look at these passages of Scripture this morning, I think we are going to discover three important facts about the work that we do.

I. THE NATURE OF WORK

The first is the nature of work. "What is the nature of work?" The world tells us that work is a struggle to climb up the ladder of success to gain as much of the world's status & power as we can.

But Paul tells us to consider our work as a service to God. Regardless of what we do we are to serve God in the work that we perform.

If we look at work that way, it will dispel the idea of judging people by the kind of work which they do.

The world says that the person who works with his hands is not nearly as important as the person who works with his mind.

Therefore, it gives greater rewards to executives, supervisors, the people who think things through & tell others what to do. And that often produces a professional snobbishness.

Of course, if you can hit a baseball or throw a football, or if you are an actor or a musician who can put on quite a show, you are worth more than anybody else & you will obviously make more money than anybody else. That is the standard the world goes by.

I came across an imaginary letter addressed to "Jesus, Son of Joseph, Carpenter Shop, Nazareth" from the Jordan Management Consultants in Jerusalem.

Supposedly, Jesus had sent them resumes of the 12 Apostles to evaluate. This management consultant firm had given them a battery of tests & now is writing back to Jesus to tell Him its conclusions.

Here are their findings after testing the 12 men that Jesus has selected.

It said, "In the opinion of our staff most of your candidates are lacking in background, education, & vocational aptitude for the type of enterprise you are undertaking.

"Simon Peter is emotionally unstable & given to fits of temper. Andrew has absolutely no qualities of leadership. The two brothers, James & John the Sons of Zebedee, seem to place personal interest above team loyalty. Thomas demonstrates a questioning attitude that would tend to undermine morale."

"In addition, we feel that it is our duty to tell you that Matthew has been blacklisted by the Greater Jerusalem Better Business Bureau & that James, the Son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, & Thaddaeus definitely have radical leanings."

"In the light of our findings we recommend that you continue searching for other candidates with managerial experience & proven capability."

"One of the candidates, however, shows great potential. He is a man of ability & resourcefulness. He meets people well. He has a keen business mind & has contacts in high places. He is greatly motivated, ambitious, & responsible. We recommend Judas Iscariot as your Chief Financial Officer & Administrative Assistant."

(Adapted, 2015)

I am afraid that is just the way the world thinks, because as we look at people we don't look for the same things Jesus looked for, & we miss some things that Jesus sees. Jesus was able to see a potential & capability that we often miss.

What is the nature of work? Paul says that we are to consider our work as a service to God, no matter what we do. Mowing lawns, working in the field or in the office, whatever we do, we are to do to the glory of God & not just to gain status or power among men.

II. THE PURPOSE OF WORK

Secondly, we ask this question: What is the purpose of work?

Our answer will depend upon how we answered the first question. If you answered the first question by saying, "The nature of work is a struggle to climb the ladder of success." Then your answer to the 2nd question will be, "The purpose of work is to make money & accumulate the things of the world."

But if you answered the first question by saying, "The purpose of work is to serve God." Then the answer to the second question is different as well.

Paul gives us an answer to that question in Ephesians 4:28. He says, "Let him who steals, steal no longer. But rather, let him labor, performing with his own hands what is good, in order that he may have something to share with him who has need."

Do you know what Paul is saying? He is saying, "The purpose behind work is not to accumulate possessions, but the purpose behind our work is to meet needs." Now, that is a little hard to swallow, isn't it?

ILL. A businessman might think, "Paul is out of touch with reality because he doesn't realize that we must make a profit. If we don't make a profit, we have to lay off employees. If we lay off employees, they won't have a paycheck coming in. So, it is important for us to make a profit."

No, Paul is not saying, "Don't make a profit." He is not saying that at all. The Bible never discourages making a profit. In fact, the Bible teaches that it is wise to make more money than you spend. That is just good common sense. It is important that we make a profit.

But the Bible discourages hoarding & greed & covetousness & the worship of things. Paul is saying, "The purpose in our working is that we might have money to support ourselves & our families & those who are in need."

III. THE RESULT OF WORK

The last question is this, "What is the result of our work?"

Work is important, & from the moment He made Adam & Eve God gave them work to do but work in & of itself cannot fully satisfy.

But we think it can, because we identify with what we do. "Who are you?" we ask. The answer is, "I am a lawyer, or, I am a doctor, or I am a farmer, or I am a clerk." We are what our work is, & if we do something worth-while we feel we are worth something.

The world teaches that you are what you do & what you have accumulated.

There are more important things than our daily work. More important than anything else is our relationship to Christ. If we gain the whole world & lose our soul, what have we gained?

If we lay up treasures that rust & rot away, & have no treasure in heaven, what have we gained?

God is at home, & He offers a meaning & a purpose to life which we will never be able to find anywhere else.

Lots of people don’t go to church today because they are enjoying the weekend away.

Yet, Labor Day is an important day for us to be reminded about work. About what work means to us and what it should mean in our relationship with Christ.

The first time we hear the word work in the Bible comes with God doing the work.

In Genesis 2:1-3, we read ~

1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.

2 And on the seventh day God finished His work that He had done,

and He rested on the seventh day from all His work that He had done.

3 So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all His work that He had done in creation. — Genesis 2:1-3

Now, when many of us look at work, we look at it as a necessary evil. But that’s not how work was supposed to be. I believe when God was creating the heavens and the earth, when He was dividing the sky from the land and the waters from the mountains . . . and when God was creating the animals . . . I believe God was having a blast! It was not the drudgery of work that we think of. It was fun, it was exciting, it was passion and action filled. I believe there was holy laughter and excitement between the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

The original plan was for us to work the land. We see that a few verses later in Genesis 2:15 ~

15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. – Genesis 2:15

The word we read in Genesis 2:15 is not the same word for work we saw when God was working. This is a softer word for work. Other Bible versions don’t say to work the land, they say phrases like tend to the land or cultivate the land.

You see, the point of working was not to be a pain in our lives. It was not to be a punishment or make us suffer. That’s how it was intended. But then sin entered the world, and everything changed, including work.

Whatever you do, work heartily. Literally, what Paul is telling us is “whatever you do, put all of your heart into it.”

So, as we go into the workplace, maybe later today or tomorrow or Tuesday . . . or you go back to school, you participate in whatever you participate in, you volunteer in whatever you volunteer in…you do it willingly, because you are seeking to bring honor and glory to Christ.

I like what Stuart Briscoe, an author and pastor, shared about a conversation he had with a woman. He asked her "What do you do?"

She replied, "I'm a disciple of Jesus Christ, very skillfully disguised as a machine operator."

To the extent we carry our Christian principles into the work world, our work becomes a Christian ministry. This gives work new meaning and dignity.

We can’t, on the other hand, claim to be Christians if our Christianity is only a one day a week affair. God does care what you do Monday through Friday whether you are an employee or employer. There is great encouragement in knowing this.

You carry it in your heart this morning. So carry it to the workplace on Tuesday. Someone desperately needs to hear God’s message. I hope that in some way you can see your workplace as a sacred place, where you can serve the Lord, where you can witness your faith with those who don’t know Jesus.

We are servants of Christ Jesus!!!