Labor Day: More Than Just a Long Weekend

A Christian Perspective on Work and Rest

Photo by Pam Menegakis on Unsplash

Labor Day is not a Christian holiday. It is not on a Liturgical Calendar, but that doesn’t mean it should be ignored this week.

Monday is more than just a long weekend marking the end of summer. It’s a day that honors American workers’ economic achievements. It is a tribute to the labor movement’s fight for fair wages and reasonable working hours.

The roots of Labor Day take us back to the late 19th century, when workers in the United States faced grueling conditions, often working twelve-hour days and seven-day weeks. During this period, at the peak of the Industrial Revolution, the labor force began to unite for better treatment, leading to the establishment of Labor Day as a federal holiday in 1894.

As we enjoy the holiday, it’s also an opportunity to reflect on the deeper meaning of work and rest, particularly through the lens of the gospel message.

• In Scripture, work is presented as part of God’s original design for humanity. It was a calling, a divine task given to humans to cultivate and care for the earth.
• The notion that work is a fulfilling and God-ordained activity was polluted by the Fall, like everything else. It became not just a duty but also a punishment for sin — a toilsome endeavor.
• However, the New Testament brings redemption to the concept of work with the introduction of Jesus, himself no stranger to labor.
• Jesus learned a trade, honed a skill, and worked as a carpenter.
• Through his life, we see that work is not merely a means to an end but a way in which we can participate in God’s creative power.
• We become co-creators with God, but this partnership with the divine is only possible through our engagement in work.

By tying these themes together, Labor Day becomes more than a holiday; it becomes a moment to contemplate our approach to work and rest. It challenges us to find balance, to see our labor as a way to contribute to God’s creation, and to remember that rest is not only necessary for our well-being but also a spiritual practice that helps us to trust in God’s ongoing care and provision.

Be encouraged. Work is no longer a curse. It is an opportunity to serve God and others.