We’re celebrating Labor Day in the United States today. Labor Day is a celebration of the contribution that American workers have made to this country. It began in 1882.
My dad taught me to be a hard worker when I was very young. When I came to the Lord in 1976, the Lord dealt with me about being a person of integrity and about the value of hard work. Notice what the word says about hard work and its’ value:
He who has a slack hand becomes poor, but the hand of the diligent makes rich (Proverbs 12:24).
Work hard and become a leader. Be lazy and never succeed (Proverbs 12:24 – Living).
Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper (Proverbs 13:4 – New Living).
Those who love pleasure become poor; those who love wine and luxury will never be rich (Proverbs 21:17).
Despite their desires, the lazy will come to ruin, for their hands refuse to work (Proverbs 21:25 -New Living).
Do you see a person who is efficient in his work? He will serve kings. He will not serve unknown people (Proverbs 22:29 – God’s Word Translation).
Whatever presents itself for you to do, do it with all your might, because there is no work, planning, knowledge, or skill in the grave where you’re going (Ecclesiastes 9:10 God’s Word Translation).
We’re to work as unto the Lord. We’re to work as though we were working for Jesus Himself! And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ (Colossians 3: 23-24). I adopted this attitude as a young man, and it helped me when I worked for an overbearing boss, or the work was something tedious and boring.
God created us to be productive and give life our best. There is no place in scripture for the person that refuses to pull his own load and work hard. Notice what the Apostle Paul said to the slackard:
2 Thessalonians 3:6-12 (NLT) – And now, dear brothers and sisters, we give you this command in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ: Stay away from all believers who live idle lives and don’t follow the tradition they received from us. For you know that you ought to imitate us. We were not idle when we were with you. We never accepted food from anyone without paying for it. We worked hard day and night so we would not be a burden to any of you. We certainly had the right to ask you to feed us, but we wanted to give you an example to follow. Even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “Those unwilling to work will not get to eat.” Yet we hear that some of you are living idle lives, refusing to work and meddling in other people’s business. We command such people and urge them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and work to earn their own living.
On the other hand, God promised even His Old Covenant people that He would bless what their hard work:
Deuteronomy 28:8 (NKJV) – The Lord will command the blessing on you in your storehouses and in all to which you set your hand, and He will bless you in the land which the Lord your God is giving you.
God cannot and will not bless laziness. Develop habits of hard work, habits of trusting the Lord with all of your heart, and expect God to give you His best as you offer Him your best in all you do.