Labor Day Devotion

…that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you… 1 Thessalonians 4:11

Work is a very important part of God’s will for people. God has always honored and provided work. Genesis 2:2 talks of God’s work in creating the world: And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. God is a worker Himself and appreciates rest. He created us in His image and gave us work to do.

How can we transform our work until it becomes worship?

Philippians 4:8 tells us Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-- think about such things. (NIV)

 What would happen if we made Philippians 4:8 our job description?

• As an employee, I will make it my job to be TRUTHFUL TO MY CHARACTER.

I will live my life with integrity. In other words, I will be the same on Monday at work as I am on Sunday at church!  - Matthew 5:3737 Simply let your ’Yes’ be ’Yes,’ and your ’No,’ ’No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one. (NIV)

When you’re a Christian, everything you do has Jesus’ name written on it.

·      As an employee, I will make it my job to be HONEST.

 The word translated here as “noble” denotes seriousness of purpose and self-respect in conduct.
1Timothy 2:2 translates the word as “honest”. - For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. (KJV)

Am I honest in my approach to my work? Do I give a week’s work for a week’s pay?

·      As an employee, I will make it my job to HAVE A RIGHT ATTITUDE. Do I go to work with a “Bad” attitude? Oswald Chambers says, “Moods don’t go by praying; moods go by kicking them.”

"Our words come out of our attitudes. We can let circumstances shape our perspective, or we can use a good perspective to shape our circumstances—in the high calling of our daily work." —
Howard E. Butt, Jr.

·     As an employee, I will make it my job to THINK GOOD THOUGHTS ABOUT MY BOSS AND MY FELLOW EMPLOYEES.

 If my fellow employees could read my mind, would they be embarrassed?

·      As an employee, I will make it my job to DO MY WORK AS IF TO MAKE MY BOSS SAY, “I LOVE IT!” That’s what the word here translated “lovely” means. Literally it says that whatever pushes me toward love, that’s what I ought to be thinking about! I will do as I think!

·      As an employee, I will make it my job to be ADMIRABLE.

 When my employer talks about my work, does he/she say “good things” or are they having to redo it because I’ve not given it my best? Our work itself has intrinsic value to God, so doing a good job is actually an act of worship.

·      As an employee, I will make it my job to EXPECT NO LESS THAN EXCELLENCE IN MY WORK.

 We must never be “less good” than those who do not claim Christ as Lord. Every Christian must work “as unto the Lord”! Could God feel go about signing my paycheck?

• As an employee, I will make it my job to BE WORTHY OF MY EMPLOYER’S PRAISE.

Scripture to Claim:
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17