Laboring for Christ! Newsletter - September 2024
The month of September begins with Labor Day weekend. The
very first Monday of the month is a national holiday. It has an interesting
history in its separation from the old May 1st celebration. While May Day had more of a
political flavor (honoring socialist and anarchist roots on the regulation of
work hours and such), Labor Day was designed to honor and celebrate laborers by
giving an additional opportunity for family
time to those working hard to provide for their loved ones.
This is exactly the position Dr. Martin Luther holds in his
discussion “Work as a vocation.” He divided the Table of Duties in his Small
Catechism into four main sections: Church (Bishops/pastors and hearers); Civil
realm (governments and citizens); Family (Husband and Wives; Parents and
Children); and last but not least a vocation (workers and employers/supervisors)
(SC, section 3).
For Martin Luther, a godly baker was as important a part of
the Kingdom of God as a faithful pastor. Unlike the teaching that dominated the
church of his day which elevated the priesthood and monastic lifestyle over the
people with their regular lives, Dr. Luther had a great respect for the
laborers of his congregation; perhaps because he came from the family of a
hardworking and successful man, Hans Luder, and he knew firsthand the value of
earned coins. Or maybe because he had studied the Scripture so earnestly and
learned that work is not a part of the curse of the Garden, but a blessing that
God provided for Adam even before the Fall (Gen. 2:15). After the Fall, the
work was not as joyful and productive (Gen. 3:17-19).
Till the Day of His glorious return, we are occupied by work
activities. The world makes a huge difference between owning a successful
company and the simple routine of a housewife. Yet, the Biblical view of each
of them is measured by the condition of the hear. Giving your all to a vocation
might be a way of bringing glory to God. Even the sobering words of
Ecclesiastes teaches us that though life can seem meaningless, there is
nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his work, for that is his lot
(Eccl. 3:22).
It is also worth noting that the root of the word for “work”
and “labor” in the Bible is the same as “worship.” Don’t get me wrong, by no
means am I going to teach that we are working out our salvation, or a time of
worship is heavy labor or a burden. None of that. Yet, the Bible teaches a parallel between our
devout life of prayer and thanksgiving to God with the dutiful fulfillment of
our labor responsibilities. St. Paul teaches us in the Letter to Colossians
(3:23): Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the LORD and not for men,
knowing that from the LORD you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You
are serving the Lord Christ. May He be glorified through the toils of our
daily life!
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