I perceived that there is nothing better for them
than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live;
also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil —
this is God’s gift to man.
(Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 ESV)
Originally, holidays were holy days. In fact, the word "holiday" comes from the Old English word hāligdæg, which means "holy day."
Today, many holidays are "secular," but we can sanctify them in our hearts and use them as opportunities to praise and thank God.
Labor Day is a good example. This holiday, which has been celebrated nationwide each year since 1894, grew out of the 19th-century U.S. labor movement. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Labor Day "recognize[s] the many contributions workers have made to America’s strength, prosperity, and well-being."
But who endows workers with their strength and well-being? For that matter, who gives them life and breath? The God of all creation is the author of all these things!
So on Labor Day, we should not only honor laborers but also pray that our labors would honor the God who made us.
Praying today
Here are a few "prayer points" to help you add a Labor Day element to your prayers:
Father,
You are the Creator God, "for whom and through whom everything exists" (Hebrews 2:10) and who made humanity in your "own image" (Genesis 1:27).
You willed that in his earthly life, Jesus would hallow labor and be known as "the carpenter’s son" (Matthew 13:55). Help us follow his perfect example and honor you in our work. May we "work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men" (Colossians 3:23).
We acknowledge you as Jehovah-Jireh, our provider. Bless us so that we can provide for our families and be generous givers. Make it possible for us to earn a just return for our labor.
Prosper those businesses that honor you through their labor practices. May management and labor enjoy respectful and productive relationships that benefit all.
Remind us to honor other workers we encounter each day. May our interactions with those working at the checkout, making deliveries, or providing online customer service be characterized by encouragement and gratitude.
Protect workers whose jobs involve great danger, including construction workers, electricians, police, and military personnel.
Be merciful to the unemployed. Sustain them by your grace and open doors of opportunity for them.
Make us mindful and appreciative of retirees, the fruits of whose many years of labor we enjoy today. Thank you for blessing our nation through the work of their hands and the creativity of minds.
Thank you, Father, that our Lord Jesus "finished the work that you gave [him] to do" (John 17:4). By your grace, may we be faithful to the tasks you have assigned to each of us.
Amen.
Happy Labor Day from all of us at SMI!
