THE VALUE OF LABOR
		
In a few days, our nation will pause to celebrate the concept of "labor."  For many, "Labor Day" 
is the last day of summer and the last chance to get in that weekend vacation.  For others, it is the 
first weekend of "hunting season" and a time to hit the fields and woods.  Most of us spend the 
day with family or friends, grilling out in the backyard.  Regardless of how you spend the 
holiday, we would all do well to pause for a few moments to contemplate the value of labor—
"work" to most of us.
	
One of my father's greatest lessons, taught in numerous ways, was the value of hard labor.  
Whether it was pulling corn by hand, carrying firewood to the house, cutting a cord of pulpwood 
on a hot summer's afternoon, or just mowing the yard, dad taught me and my brothers and sister 
the importance of work.  I've often thought that dad enjoyed working more that just about 
anything else.
	
This lesson, however, has served me well down through the years.  Interestingly, hard work is 
not just a good habit—it is a Biblical principle.  Man was created to "work."  After God had 
created Adam, the Bible says, "Now the LORD God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; 
and there he put the man he had formed...  The LORD God took the man and put him in the 
Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it" (Gen 2:8, 15).  Please note that we were created 
"to work."
	
The Bible has a lot to say about the value and godliness of work.  Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes, 
"There is a time for everything … a time to plant and a time to uproot ...a time to tear down 
and a time to build … a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them … a time to tear and a 
time to mend …" (Eccl. 3:1-7).  Paul encouraged the Thessalonians with these words, "Make it 
your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, 
just as we told you" (1 Thess. 4:11).
	 
One of the criticisms of Jesus was his "work ethic."  In response to barbs from the Pharisees, 
Jesus said, "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working" (Jn. 
5:17).  Jesus, however, adds a very important note to his teachings about labor.  We must not 
overlook the greatest work of all—to believe in Jesus and to labor in his vineyard.  Jesus warned 
the Jews, "Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the 
Son of Man will give you" (Jn. 6:27).  

Let's celebrate labor, especially the wonderful labor of working in God's Kingdom.

Leslie S. Chapman