Labor Day

It's Labor Day--the day of rest that celebrates labor...the last hurrah of summer. Don't miss Rachel's devo about God's plan for labor and rest. (Note: Most of you may already know, but you can subscribe to have Proverbs 31 Ministries' devotions and have them sent to your email box each day. There's a link to subscribe at the bottom of the devotion today if you'd like to take advantage of this easy way to get it.)

Along the way, I had heard many times that work was part of the curse. I had internalized that "truth" until one day I heard a pastor point out that God had actually given work as a gift to Adam in the garden. Adam's job was to tend the garden. Genesis 2:15 says, "The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden to work it and take care of it." (NIV)

Can you imagine the pleasure? Naming the newly formed animals, pruning the lush trees and picking clean the laden branches might have been some of his chores.

Until sin.

Sin was the game-changer, and Adam and Eve were banished from the garden. Hard, back-breaking, sweat-producing work was part of the curse of sin.

How is the Christian to respond? Well, I believe that God's redemption from sin needs to show in every area of our lives including our work. As a Christian, I need to be the best, most conscientious, most hard-working employee (or writer, or housekeeper, or mother...) possible.

What does that look like? I've had several jobs over the years that weren't naturally giving me pleasure. I'd go through the normal ups and downs of loving my job and then not-so-much. Those not-so-much periods drove me to my knees begging God to either put me in a new place of work or to help change my attitude. In one job I had God change my attitude amazingly after several slumps. He is so faithful. In my last job, I prayed and prayed that God would help me to work with all my heart as I was finishing. It was a job that had been a struggle, but I wanted to finish well. Again, God came through. I want to teach, write, market, clean, cook and do laundry with the joy that God has given me.

Why is it important to find joy in our work? Christians are called to reflect Jesus to the world in everything we do. I need to find joy, meaning and purpose in my work to reflect that Jesus can give something different. He can redeem us from the curse in every area of life.

I hope you all have a great labor day. We started with s'mores at the fire pit last night, but we'll probably do some labor in the yard today. What are your plans?