If you can use either phrase, “I have to” or “I get to” to begin the following, which would you choose? “…go to the dentist”, “…go to the baseball game”, “…spend two weeks in Hawaii”, “…attend church”, “…go out to dinner”, “…have surgery”, “…go to work” ?  Well, since this is Labor Day when we traditionally honor the great workforce here in the United States that makes our economy run and contributes to our wellbeing,  let’s take a look at that last one and how you would answer it.

     Probably many, if not the majority, would say: “I have to go to work,” implying that it is something we have to do to make money to exist, support a family and buy the things we want to have.  Many tend to look upon work as part of the curse and it is simply a drudgery that resulted from sin in the Garden of Eden. But, before Adam sinned, “The LORD God took him and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it” (Gen. 2:15). God created us to be workers and to contribute to society. Granted work became harder after sin took place, but work itself is not part of the curse. Being made in the image of God (Gen. 1:26,27), we are creative beings, equipped with natural talents (and, as Christians, spiritual gifts), which are to be used for the good of others. Each of us can contribute in a unique way to our society. We find satisfaction when we use these talents and gifts to, not just “make a living,” but to enhance the world in which we live, providing we “do our work heartily as for the Lord rather than for men; knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve” (Col. 3:23,24). When we realize that being able to work is part of who God made us, and if we have the attitude that we are ultimately doing our work “as for the Lord,” we can say, “I get to go to work”–what a privilege! There are many who don’t have a job or who physically or mentally cannot work.

    But, have  you ever asked yourself after a long, laborious or tedious day at work, “What is the point?” If you have, you are not alone. Thousands of years ago, King Solomon, the author of the book of Ecclesiastes, asked the same question: “What advantage does man have in all his work which he does under the sun?” (Eccl. 1:3).  He could relate to the emotional and psychological despair that comes from working hard all day–or your whole life–only to realize that what you are really looking for is out of reach. It is “vanity and striving after wind” (1:14).  You might gather that Solomon, like may today, had a low view of work, but that was not the case. What he was emphasizing is that if you idolize work or expect it to bring you the satisfaction, purpose and fulfillment that only God can provide, you will be disillusioned, disappointed and despairing. It will be empty and wearisome (Eccl. 1:2,8). If we expect our work to fulfill what only the Creator can do, we make work our idol. Work is not our identity. Our job doesn’t identify who we are. It is just how we serve God and others with the talents and gifts with which God has equipped us to contribute to society. My true identity is in Jesus Christ, not in what I do. Unfortunately, Solomon went through much of his life looking for fulfillment outside of God. He relates how that led to emptiness and lack of purpose. 

     Father, thank you for all your good gifts, including the ability and desire to work. But may the good things never replace You in our hearts. May we always treasure You as the greatest, most precious gift. Then we can truly say, “I get to go to work” for it is not part of the curse nor am I idolizing it. I am working to serve You and others. Thank you for that opportunity. “Our position, as followers of Christ, gives every job we do a higher, clearer, ultimately more satisfying sense of purpose” (Paul Nyquist, past president of Moody Bible Institute). 

Happy Labor Day!

Forever His,

Pastor Dave N