It is one of the first and last qualifications of a good workman for God that he should put his heart into his work.

– Charles Spurgeon

Garrett White has started a wonderful tradition of writing an article for the past couple holidays. I greatly respect how he has approached Memorial Day and the Fourth of July. I was also glad he wrote those articles, partly because I was pretty sure I would not do them as much justice. As a proud Gen Zer, I am not always the most comfortable with grandiose patriotic expressions and displays. However, given my skepticism of capitalism I am a lot more comfortable expressing positive sentiment over the value of labor and the working class. All that being said, I was very thankful for Garrett’s willingness to let me take on this holiday. The work that humans do is deserving of the utmost respect.

Growing up, Labor Day was never a holiday that stood out to me much. I would often go on a weekend trip with my family, or just enjoy a long weekend. It was also never a holiday that got talked about. Most holidays at least spark a small conversation about whatever topic said holiday is celebrating. Never this one though. This is probably due to the fact that I come from a few generations of white collar workers. The modern concept of labor is pretty far removed from what labor meant back in the nineteenth century.

A brief history of Labor Day is that as trade unions and labor movements grew there were proposals for a day to be set aside celebrating labor and laborers. A parade was even organized in New York City to start celebrating it. It became an official American holiday in 1894. The more traveled reader might already know that most of the world also celebrates Labor Day (maybe Labour Day would be more accurate in this case) on the first of May. I would love to chastise the United States for arbitrarily being out of sync with the rest of the world, but it is not actually our fault. International Workers’ Day is based off of the Haymarket affair which was a riot in Chicago for eight hour workdays. Either date that this holiday is celebrated on comes from America, so we can accept some type of moral victory here.

Human beings inherently have worth. This is because we are created in the image of God. This means that there is a specific and base level of spiritual worth that cannot be taken away from any human, no matter their circumstances, decisions, or mistakes. In one sense this is reassuring and should cause us great delight in our Lord. Though, for those who have not yet been saved by the Holy Spirit, a spark of divinity only does not save from damnation. This still means that everyone deserves a base level of respect. No matter where they lie on the totem pole or whatever their career may be. It is important for people who are better off to understand this. The poorer and working classes, at least in the traditional sense of the term, are worthy of respect and are not to be abused. I hope that in the twenty-first century this is not as much of an issue as it was in the Industrial Revolution, but trying to get the most out of someone by squeezing them for all they are worth is not a Biblical thing to do.

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

Everyone is mandated to work. In Genesis Adam was told to work and tend the garden. He was to name the animals and steward what was within the walls of paradise. I know that most people are not exactly thrilled to go to work every day, but work is something that is good. God worked to create the whole universe. Adam was given his tasks well before the fall, before sin entered the world. It was promised that work would be harder post-fall, but it was not introduced there. What this should point us to is a willingness to work hard and to work for the glory of God in all things. I am incredibly sympathetic to the cost of living going up. I am also sympathetic to the fact that when accounting for inflation, there is strong evidence to suggest that the average worker has not been earning any more purchasing power since the late 1970s. Regardless, work is something that we all need to take on with God in the forefront of our minds. Some people work white collar jobs, others blue collar jobs. Many women will pursue a career of motherhood, a demanding job which is seen as lowly nowadays. Other than a rare number of trust fund babies, we all have to work. It is my prayer that in the bad days and in the good days, we will always be thankful for what God has given us.

All that being said, that does not mean that we should not stand up for ourselves. God has given us work to do each day, and he has also given us a voice. As workers we need to be willing to walk away from jobs and environments that are negative for us. In theory, I think that unions can be very helpful in this regard. Nowadays, unions tend to be pretty pathetic and incredibly politized, but once upon a time they were instrumental in getting fair treatment for those that were paving the way for Western success and industrialization. It was the Central Labor Union that campaigned hard for Labor Day to become a holiday in the first place.

It is important to note that work is not limited just to a job/career. As alluded to before, work in the home is not irrelevant and neither is work for the Kingdom. In fact, I would say that while our jobs on this Earth are important, there is nothing more important than to be working hard to build up the Kingdom of God. This can start in little ways, like sharing the love of Jesus with others. It can also include pastoring and becoming deeply entrenched in a local church and body of believers. Many people have gone through life with very successful careers, but if the Kingdom is not being grown and worked on, it is all for nought.

Working for Jesus and being bold in our works for Him is a must. I know that those of us in the Protestant tradition get squeamish when we are told to do works, but they are in fact a requirement. Sure, salvation does not come from our works but I can basically guarantee that every believer who has been saved has done a plethora of works in their life. We are now and will be in the future judged by God according to our works. They may not save, but a healthy tree is evident only when the fruit is good and sweet, saturated with the Holy Spirit.

Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. – Matthew 7:15-20 (ESV)

This is true of labor as well. One knows they are a good worker if the product of their labor is good and worth value. They can try their best all they would like, but if a part or product is faulty, then it again has no worth. This resonated with me personally as I am only a year or so into my career. There are better days and worse days. Days when I am busier than I have ever been, and days when I am bored out of my mind. Regardless, as a laborer and as someone who works for a living (which should be most of humanity), I always want to make sure my work is a blessing to those above me and around me. It is important as workers that we all set good boundaries and have a good work life balance. It is important we fight for our rightful wages and that we even unionize if need be. Labor has value because of its fruits and because laborers all have some inherent value. All of this is only true if our labor is honoring God and bringing glory to Him. We should protest, strike, and fight hard for the best conditions and pay, but it would be absurd and unchristian to do this without good fruit to show for it.

On this year’s Labor Day, I would encourage each of us to reflect on our careers and to make sure that we are being fairly compensated. I hope that to every worker who reads this that they would feel affirmed in their labor. I also hope that we use this wonderful Monday off to relax and spend most of our time focusing on the things and people we love. My main hope would be that we would also reflect on our place as laborers in God’s Kingdom, and that we would strive in every hour, day and night, to always be working for the growth and betterment of God’s Kingdom. Let all that we labor in be for His glory.

And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. – Colossians 3:23-24 (KJV)

Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: – Exodus 20:9 (KJV)

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 Corinthians 15:58 (KJV)