3 Sep, 2007
Working hard...
A little history lesson on Labor Day...
| For years Labor Day was an occasion not only to honor the achievements of labor but also to draw public attention to the plight of workers and such problems as child labor. These boys, documented in a photograph by Lewis Hine, were working long hours in an American textile mill in the early 1900s. |
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| photo courtesy of Corbis/Library of Congress |
Colossians 3:23 (NLT)
23 Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.
Are you working today? No school! Day off?
I'm writing this DAILYBIDE on Labor Day, because I have to do my Youth For Christ job. When I'm done, I'm going to go do a little miscellaneous work because I have the day off from my normal work.
So I guess you could say that even though I have to work today, I get to do some other work that is hard to do when I'm working!
Sounds confusing doesn't it? Doesn't it seem like most people are confused about work? People often complain about having to go to work, but then complain when they're out of work. People often wish they didn't have to work so hard, but feel most fulfilled when they have worked hard. People often try to avoid working hard, but then get upset when they see others hardly working. Trying to figure this out is hard work!
What does today's God's Story scripture teach us about work?
Ever since God created this world, He has given us work to do and wants us to understand why we should work. God wants us to glorify Him by honoring Him with our attitude and actions in work. We need to see work as an opportunity to serve God and worship Him.
If we have Paul's perspective to see work as something we do to honor the Lord, just think how this can affect our daily attitude about hours, wages, the boss, and those around us who aren't working as hard as us. We can work without complaining if we see our job problems and challenges as training ground to become more effective as representatives for Christ.
Labor Day originated to honor workers and bring attention to the problems of child labor.
God is into child labor - He want His sons and daughters to bring attention to Himself by honoring Him with cheerful, effective work!
- Thank God for the privilege of work. Ask His Spirit to give you God's perspective on work. Thank God that His Spirit is always at work in you, helping you want to obey Him and honor Him.
- Memorize today's verse. It will help you keep perspective the rest of your life!
- Pray every day to honor the Lord as you do homework, babysit, flip burgers, clean out the garage, clean the house, stand on the assembly line, do the late shift......
How can we connect today's story and God's Story scripture and our story to others?
- Pray that others will be attracted to your story and God's Story as they see your work attitude and habits.
- If you are in a job situation that is not a good match for you, or you are being treated unfairly, pray that God will use this time to help you grow spiritually and that your response will give you the opportunity to connect your story and God's Story to their story. (Then pray for changes or perhaps a new job!)
- August 2008 [19]
- July 2008 [22]
- June 2008 [13]
- May 2008 [20]
- April 2008 [22]
- March 2008 [21]
- February 2008 [19]
- January 2008 [20]
- December 2007 [19]
- November 2007 [16]
- October 2007 [20]
- September 2007 [18]
- August 2007 [12]
- July 2007 [12]
- June 2007 [10]
- May 2007 [12]
- April 2007 [10]
- March 2007 [11]
- February 2007 [14]
- January 2007 [7]
- December 2006 [4]
- November 2006 [13]
- October 2006 [17]
- September 2006 [11]
- August 2006 [16]
- July 2006 [11]
- June 2006 [3]
