Pastor’s Corner

Labor Day thankfulness

Labor Day is upon us ... finally. For many of you, the restart of the school season was a bit early and the arrival of Labor Day weekend couldn’t come soon enough. Getting back into a more hurried routine and having to push the grinding stone harder and faster to make ends meet leaves much of us feeling a little perplexed at the end of most days. We ask ourselves, “How are we going to make it through this year?” In the spring, you will look back and see that your labor was not in vain, for you will have worked through many trials and grown by the many demands placed upon you as you struggled. But a quick break is finally upon us where the battles of charcoal and propane will no doubt heat up to worthy contenders of deliciousmeat and produce.

In some parts of the good ol’ USA, Labor Day has been celebrated for almost 130 years. It is a time to reflect on hard work and its necessity. Many are reminded of the quick-toremember Scriptures that work is good, even Adam and Eve were placed in the garden to work it, tending to its care. In our current condition, it is by the sweat of our brow that we must produce a crop. Thankfulness is no doubt invoked in the hearts of those who fear the Lord, who recognize His hand in the strengthening of the bones toward the labor we pursue. Sadly, much of what we work then is still in vain, “a striving after wind” as thewriter of Ecclesiastes puts it. Life ceases and we are no more. Our labors ended and for what?

Thank God our story of labor does not end there.

For we have been saved from our futility and laboring after pursuits of self service. We see that by God’s grace, we labor not for those things which are eternal, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Jesus’ labor for us upon the cross and resurrection is what has brought us the fruit of mercy and amazing grace through faith in Him. We labored for it none! Rather we receive it with glad and willing hearts, knowing He calls us to labor each day in Him, and not to forget the rest either. Free to labor, what a thought.

It would be wrong of me to stop here, I must make mention to the following verse 10 in Ephesisans, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

What good labor it is when given from above.

Reflect on your labors this Labor Day. Who were they for? How did you serve God while being a butcher, a baker, a candlestick maker?

A mom, a dad or a child?

Don’t miss the blessing of serving Him no matter what you do. He has given you His grace ... rejoice.

And don’t burn the steaks.

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Editor’s note: Neil Vanderbush is the pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church, Pea Ridge. He can be contacted at P.O. Box 555, Pea Ridge, AR 72751, or by e-mail at [email protected].

Church, Pages 2 on 08/31/2011