God and Our Work
Our Labor Day holiday celebrates the value of work. Without people laboring at vocations and jobs, little would be accomplished or built. Every form of work is a gift from God, no matter how lowly it is in the eyes of the world. Through work and jobs, people are helping one another have the blessings of our society.
Work and jobs are therefore more than making money. They are our vocations, that is, “our callings.” The jobs we have in the workplace or at home are “callings” from God to help our neighbors. Most people have multiple vocations as parents, managers of households, workers, teachers of children, citizens. Through each of these vocations, we interact with others and help our neighbors.
Since our work is a gift from God that uses our God-given skills to benefit others, fulfilling our vocations becomes a way to serve God out of love for Jesus’ salvation. In the world, work may seem troublesome and drudgery. However, in relationship to our faith, work becomes part of our loving service to God in which we freely help others.
Notice how this view of labor directs our attention to our neighbor, instead of ourselves. One cause of so much inner turmoil in people today is because their focus is on themselves, making themselves happy. Such a focus leads to misery. Dr. Martin Luther declared: “Nay, cursed be that life into perdition that lives for self; for to so live is heathenish and not Christian. Then those who have at present their sufficiency from Christ, must follow the example of Christ and with utter sincerity do good to their neighbors, as Christ did to us; freely, without the least thought of obtaining anything thereby, only with the desire that it be pleasing to God.” [Sermon for Pentecost Monday, John 3:16-21].
Through faith in Jesus and His work of salvation, God gives us all things—forgiveness, eternal life, and salvation from punishment. God knows what we need to live in this world and we are trust Him to supply it through our work. But others do not know about these blessings from God. God uses us in our vocations to give our neighbors those things that they lack—the Word, faith in Jesus, and earthly necessities.
We thank God for giving us a meaningful life as we serve others through our work and vocations. We also thank God for giving us eternal life through faith in Jesus