A Day-by-day devotional

May 1, 2023

Labor for the Lord

Chronological One Year Bible Reading Plan: 2 Samuel 10-13

Scripture of the Day: Colossians 3:23-24

Most of the world celebrate today as Labor Day. It is a day to commemorate the achievements of workers – all who toil and sweat with their hands.

If you love your work, you wouldn’t have to drag yourself getting to your workplace. You start your day looking forward to giving your best, striving hard to deliver excellent outcomes. Still, there will be days that your body would shout its need for rest. If these days fall on a day that you actually have to do more than normal, your ‘work-with-cheerfulness’ meter could highly likely drop from a hundred to ten.

Those of us who land on our dream jobs are rather blessed. Yet, considering the difficult situation that the world is facing economically, to even just have a job is already a big blessing. However, some of us who toil at jobs that we do not really like, least of all, love, in the first place, might actually feel resentment for it. We would have to drag ourselves to get to work. Hence, it becomes a daily struggle.

Nonetheless, we may find inspiration in the apostle Paul’s words, “Whatever you do, work as though you’re working for God…” (Colossians 3:23). Although in our jobs, unless you are the CEO of your own company, we work for our employers, bosses, leaders, or supervisors, we should not aim to produce outputs for them, but for God. When we do that, although it may not be our dream job, or we are too exhausted, it could in fact, become lighter.

Our physical body and mental state have a limit. They would sometimes tell us it’s too much, yet, we cannot rest. We have to give ourselves that one big push to continue to work. Nonetheless, to still be able to put our best efforts, thinking of our work as toiling not for human masters but for our heavenly Master, would not only give us success, but peace. God’s promise still holds. He says, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and heavily laden. I shall give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

Reflection: No work is easy. Every job has its highs and lows. Nevertheless, whether you have the most menial or the most tedious and sophisticated job in the world, if you change your perspective that whatever you do, you toil for the Lord, every work day would be meaningful!

Prayer: I thank you God for the works of my hands. I am grateful for every work you bless me with. Grant me the ability to give my best efforts at work, whatever it is that I do, whether I feel like doing it or not. May I be conscientious, desiring to excellently do what I do, not for man, but for you. Amen.