Top 12 Bible Verses for Labor Day
Top 10 Bible verses for Labor Day.
According to the United States Department of Labor, Congress enacted legislation making Labor Day a legal holiday in 1894. The holiday is the nation's tribute to the American worker.
The celebration of workers and work is certainly appropriate, and a national holiday is a demonstration of the priority Americans place on work and workers.
Work is good, and we should be grateful for the work entrusted to us. Work is also Biblical. What does the Bible say about work? Check out the Top 12 Bible Verses for Labor day.
1. Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men... Colossians 3:23 (NASB).
This is one I need reminding of and one we should all take to heart. It's pretty straight forward. It's a reminder that we're not working for our company, or our boss, or even our paycheck, but we are working for Lord. Whatever we are doing, we are doing it for the Lord.
2. Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. Proverbs 16:3 (NIV).
Same song, different verse. However, this verse provides wisdom and guidance for accomplishing our plans, goals, and dreams. Commit them to the Lord. Let Him establish them.
3. Where no oxen are, the trough is clean; But much increase comes by the strength of an ox. Proverbs 14:4 (NJKV).
This is one of my personal favorites. My wife and I use it in our marriage ministry. We use it to keep wives encouraged and remind them of the value in their husbands. Yes, we liken husbands to oxen and the mischief created by men to ox poop. It is what it is. However, the clear meaning of the verse is that work is messy, but messiness is essential to generate profit. You see? Having to endure crap at work is not something unique to the American workforce, it has been a problem from the beginning, but it is necessary.
4. In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty. Proverbs 14:23 (ESV).
"Talk is cheap" is not just an American cliche, it's Biblical truth.
5. Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies have no sense. Proverbs 12:11 (NLT).
If you're searching for verses about work, Proverbs is a good place to start. And stay. There is plenty of return for your labor there.
6. Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain. Philippians 2:14-16 (NASB).
Bonus:
Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joy and a glad heart, for the abundance of all things; therefore you shall serve your enemies whom the Lord will send against you, in hunger, in thirst, in nakedness, and in the lack of all things; and He will put an iron yoke on your neck until He has destroyed you. Deuteronomy 28:47-48 (NASB).
Yikes! Doing your work is not enough. We are to do it without complaining or grumbling. Anyone ever complain about their job? I know I'm guilty. What about serving the Lord? Anyone ever complain about serving? Guilty. The point of this is not to make anyone feel guilty, but to remind you (myself included) that our work is a gift from God.
7. But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. 1 Timothy 5:8 (NASB).
Ouch! Scripture can be harsh? But ignoring truth is harsher, so let's be thankful for the bluntness.
8. For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either. For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies. Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to work in quiet fashion and eat their own bread. But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary of doing good. 2 Thessalonians 3:10-13 (NASB)
Did I mention scripture can be harsh. This is quite the departure from the mentality permeating society today, which is that the government owes us something. Again, this is not a new issue. Yet, despite the admonition, there is an encouragement to not grow weary in doing good.
9. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Galatians 6:9 (NKJV).
Sound familiar? This is not the same verse, but the sentiment is identical. As much as we are instructed to work diligently and enjoy the fruit of our labor, the Bible also offers encouragement for when the fruit takes longer than expected to mature. Scripture assures us that we will reap if we do not lose heart.
10. The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. Genesis 2:15 (NIV).
As Americans, it's easy to think of hard work as an American virtue. It is, and it should always be, but it was God's idea first. God gave Adam a job, and He has given us jobs.
11. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made. Genesis 2:3 (KJV).
and
12. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath of the Lord your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, your male or your female servant or your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and made it holy. Exodus 20:8-11 (NASB).
Lest we forget that rest from our work is a command, not a suggestion. And rest is not just something we're to do on holidays. It's something we need weekly. God prescribed it. We should trust His judgment.
Obviously, there are many more than twelve Bible verses on work or that relate to Labor Day. This is not supposed to be an exhaustive list. It is, however, a representative list. I encourage you to spend a little time on Labor Day to reflect on your work and what the Bible says about work. And then to enjoy the fruit of your labor - and a little rest.
The Top 12 Verses for Labor Day is a part of the Top Verses for the Holidays series which includes:
