Thought for the Week

This “Thought” might fit better in September, when we celebrate “Labor Day.” But working and labor are on my mind. Our reaction to the epidemic has done strange things to labor and employment. Some may see labor as a result of God’s curse placed on Adam for his sin of disobedience to God’s command. But if we consider it carefully, Adam had work to do before his sin. Actually, he had both physical and mental labor. His physical labor was to tend and manage the garden God had planted for him and future generations. The mental labor was to name the animals. This was not to give names to individuals like spot or fluffy, but rather giraffe or parrot. So, labor preceded sin. God’s original intent was that man should “… replenish the earth and subdue it (care for and manage it.). When God pronounced the curse it was that instead of what had been happening, the ground would now produce thorns, thistles and other such challenges. Adam would now need to toil. His body would be tested and produce sweat. The labor would be hard. I expect crops would be less productive than originally. Yet, while God intends people to work, He also provides rest for them on one day out of seven. There is more to this Sabbath Day rest theologically but practically it is about what is designed and beneficial to man. I understand that France tried to stretch the work week to ten days but the people rebelled. Of course there have also been efforts made to reduce the work week to five days or something. There are also those who do not want to work at all and would rather live on the public dole. When Israel received the Ten Commandments from God, the word was, “Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day, is to be a Sabbath of rest”, kept holy and for the intent of worshipping and resting. Jesus demonstrated work of kindness, healing, blessing could be done. He actually said, “The Sabbath was made for man” (for his benefit and blessing) “not man for the Sabbath” (so it would become tedious and he would be judged on his observation of it). Scripture also proposes work can be enjoyable and men can take pleasure in the work they do. I hope you take pleasure in the work you do and you wake up on the first day of your work/housework/school week, or whatever requires your effort and is productive for you, with a sense of pleasure and anticipation. Feel free to dedicate yourself to working heartily so God will be honored in your work. Work willingly to provide for yourself and your loved ones. Your work can be physical or mental or a combination of the two. I believe when Jesus said “… that people may see your good works and glorify your Father Who is in heaven,” can be applied to your regular work as well as special works.

Scriptures to Read

Genesis 2:15, 19-20, 3:17-19

Proverbs 10:16, 13:11

Exodus 20:8-11

Ecclesiastes 2;20-24, 5:18-20

St. Luke 13:10 -17

II Thessalonians 3:6-13

I Timothy 5:17-19