Serving Through Work: A Christian Perspective on Labor Day
Holidays | August 29, 2024 | By: Sam Melvin
Growing up in my home, Labor Day usually marked the end of summer. School started a week or two afterward, so it was the last time you could enjoy the summer experience. Whether it meant going camping, visiting the happiest place on earth, firing up the barbecue grill one more time, or saying goodbye to relatives until the holiday season, Labor Day marked the end of one season and the beginning of another. But there’s more to Labor Day than recognizing the change of seasons.
Celebrated on the first Monday of September, Labor Day has its roots in the labor movement of the late 19th century. This was a time when workers across the United States fought for fair wages, reasonable hours, and safer working conditions. It was a period marked by labor strikes and demonstrations as workers sought to bring attention to the harsh realities of industrial labor.
The first Labor Day was celebrated on September 5, 1882, in New York City, organized by the Central Labor Union. Over the years, the holiday spread across the country, and in 1894, Congress declared it a national holiday in response to the Pullman Strike, a significant labor conflict that had escalated into nationwide unrest. Labor Day became a time not only to honor the contributions of American workers but also to recognize the importance of fair labor practices.
But Labor Day is also more than just a historical commemoration. It represents a reminder that we are called to serve others through our work. Whether you’re a teacher, a doctor, a retail employee, construction worker, stay-at-home parent, or engineer, your work provides a unique opportunity to serve others. In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus encouraged the crowds to let their “light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven (Matthew 5:16).” If our light is to shine the light of Christ, then we must practice good work so that others will see it.
Labor Day represents a reminder that we are called to serve others through our work.
Serving others with our work extends beyond our payroll check. It also means serving others in need with our “charitable” good work. Who are these others? Jesus called them neighbors (Luke 10:29-37). They are members of our community, and we are called to serve them. Jesus used the example of one considered an outsider who came to the service of one in need. This Samaritan, who would typically be rejected by society, did something that was unthinkable in his time. How fitting this example is for Christians today, since we are often depicted as the Samaritans in present day society. But we are called and equipped by the Holy Spirit to share God’s love. When we serve in the world and in Christ’s Church, we impact those around us and reveal God’s glory.
This spiritual discipline of serving our community is one of several rhythms taught in the Rooted Experience and practiced by the New Testament Church. Christ has called us to live a lifestyle of service. Just as the Samaritan entered the life of the man attacked by robbers and left for dead, we are called to enter the lives of those in need around us and serve them. Serving isn’t always convenient; it often interrupts our lives. But when we serve, we are to do so without being slothful (Romans 12:11).
As we celebrate Labor Day, we can take comfort in knowing that cooler temperatures are coming (a good thing). We can reflect on the importance of fair labor practices (also good). But more importantly, Labor Day represents a chance for us to remember that we are called to serve. And our service to God and others makes our work worth it.
Sam Melvin
Pastor of Enrichment
This article is part of our Holidays series that looks at some of the special days commemorated in our nation. Our hope is that these articles offer a chance for us to reflect on God’s Word and put on the mind of Christ as we celebrate these holidays.
Related Articles
