Labor Day

 Labor Day

September 1, 2025

Ephesians 6:5-9 (ESV)

Bondservants and Masters

5 Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, 6 not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, 7 rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, 8 knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free. 9 Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him.

Colossians 3:22-24

22 Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

On Labor Day, we rest from our work and honor those who work hard to build and produce all the things we need to keep society going. The Bible commends hard work and faithful service. Written in the context of the Roman Empire, Ephesians and Colossians state this in terms of bondservants and masters, but the same concepts apply to employees and bosses. The concept is that your should do all that is required at your work with a cheerful attitude,  even if your employer is being unreasonable. This goes against the grain of modern thought and grievance politics often found in the organized labor movement. Rather, we should work as unto the Lord, doing everything without whining or complaining. Also, the bosses should treat their employees honorably, which would in include providing an honest wage and a safe working environment. If everyone lived according to Paul’s admonition, we would all be much happier with much less conflict and strife in the workplace. So do your part to live as a Christian in the  work-a-day world. Someone will notice and the gospel will be spread. Be like the man in the current gospel song, “I Want My Life the Preach”. Living as a bondservant to the Lord in the workplace will impact people more than you know,.