A Holy Labor Day ~ Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16 ~ Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost

A Holy Labor Day

Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16

Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost

9/1/2013

 

‘Twas the night before finals, and all through the seminary, all of God’s creatures were stirring and sweating, including yours truly; toiling for what was undoubtedly the hardest class I had in all four years: systematic theology.

The assignment was a fifteen-page paper.  It was 2 a.m.—and I was stuck.  Frantic, I emailed my professor for help.

Almost instantly, he replies to my email.  I’m terrified that my email set off some kind of annoying sound or alarm that tore him out of bed, and that because of me, he was going to be cranky and give me a bad grade.  So the next day, I go and apologize for the poor timing of my email—and I’m amazed by his response.  He thanked me for writing—and goes on to explain that his day begins at 2 a.m.—and ends at about midnight.  With lectures to prepare, papers to grade, and deadlines to meet for the myriad of books and articles he’d been commissioned to write, this is what it took to get his work done.  I later learned that most of my professors kept these extreme hours, functioning on very little sleep—and very many cups of coffee.  Talk about hard work.

Work is the most fundamental means by which person earns their living, as it has been since the dawn of civilization.  But for most people, our work is driven by so much more…

In these United States, there is no singular virtue we celebrate more than hard work.  The promise of our nation is that with enough perspiration and inspiration, the American dream can be yours.  If you work hard, you will succeed in life.  You will enjoy wealth and prosperity.  People will respect and admire you.  Pride and the desire for wealth and riches are powerful motivators behind our work. 

In America, your life is your work.  Like it or not, work defines who you are. 

Yet the work that defines us can also consume us…  Work will always be the biggest source of stress.  And we all know that you can work hard and do good work—but reap very few rewards.

So on this Labor Day weekend, what is the proper place of work in the Christian life?  (And do not limit your thinking about work to merely what you do to earn a paycheck.)  

Not too long ago, a story hit the news of a 21-year-old intern, working for a major national bank.  He is said to have literally worked himself to death, putting in three consecutive 22-hour days to prove himself worthy of a prestigious and lucrative position in the company following his college graduation. 

Is that a driving force behind your work—to prove yourself worthy?  We all work under standards, both real and imagined, that we strive to live up to as employees, as parents, as spouses, as children, as friends; even as people of the church.  Even when it comes to our faith, if there’s ever any doubt about where we’ll be spending eternity, it usually comes from fear that we’ve fallen short of God’s standards due to insufficient good works (as if to forget that we’re saved ONLY by the work of Jesus Christ). 

Dear friends in Christ, it is entirely possible to work ourselves to death, when it comes to our life in Christ.  Your god will be whatever or whoever drives you to work hard, at the expense of your health, your sanity, and your relationship with the God.

What’s God’s Word to us who are weary and bone-tired from so much work and responsibility?  “The LORD is your helper.  Stop being afraid!  What can anyone do to you?”

The most important work, from an eternal perspective, is already done for you.  Christ died so that you will live.  There’s nothing we must prove to God, so why should we kill ourselves trying to prove our worth before others, and especially ourselves?

Yes, there is work to be done—and God designed the world to work that way.  We all have our vocations, and it is through these vocations that we live out our faith in daily life.  But the most important work we do as Christians isn’t really to work at all, but instead to allow the Holy Spirit to do God’s work to you.  Let the Spirit build you up in faith in word and sacrament.  Let the Spirit speak your prayers to God.  Let the Spirit comfort and encourage you through your sisters and brothers in Christ.  STOP and let God do his work—before you begin yours.

God will be your helper as you work.  You’ll have strength, courage, and peace for your labors, especially when they are hard, and you make mistakes, and fail to meet people’s expectations…  You’ll have God right there with you, to guide you when tough decisions have to be made and followed through.  You’ll have the peace of knowing that no matter what happens, God will be there to take care of you.  And that’s not all.

God will transform your work into a sanctuary to be with God.  Imagine that—work as worship to God; and entertaining angels just by doing what you do…  And with God present in your life, the love of money and privilege, and the approval of others won’t mean as much as it might have before.

Every day, we have to make choices in regards to what’s most important to us—because whatever or whoever that is will be the driving force behind our work, and everything we do.  Wouldn’t you want God to be in that position?  You have nothing to prove before God—because the work of eternal importance is done for you.  So live and do your work for the glory of God.  God will be your helper.  Live, breathe, and work upon the labor God has done for you in Jesus Christ.