LABOR – NEWSPAPER ARTICLE FOR 9/2/20

        We are quickly approaching the weekend of the year which we call the Labor Day weekend.  Labor Day became a federal holiday in 1894, and it is a tribute to the contributions and achievements of American workers.  It is observed on the first Monday in September, and it is considered to be the unofficial end of Summer, celebrated with parties and cookouts, parades, and even athletic events.

        “Words from Above” in the Bible tell us that back in the beginning of the world, God sent Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden because they had disobeyed His one single rule to not touch or eat of the tree in the middle of the garden.  He destined Adam to work with his hands by the sweat of his brow to provide food for himself and his family.  Previously, he and Eve could simply help themselves to the fruit from any one of the other  trees, but now they would have to labor for their food.  The apostle Paul also encourages people to work so that they can help those who are in need.

        We all know that we normally need to labor in order to provide for our own personal needs as well as the need of those dependent upon us.  But there is another kind of labor which the Bible requires of the followers of God, and we call it the work of the Lord. Paul tells us in I Corinthians 15:58 that we should “be diligent to abound in the work of the Lord”, especially so that our labor will not be in vain, or useless.  He makes it clear in a letter to the believers in the Colossian church, “whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not to men.”  It is important that we do the best work that we can do, and that we do it to give honor and glory to the Lord.

        In Matthew 9:37, 38, Jesus speaks about the “work of the harvest”, and He is speaking about the harvest of human souls.  He told His disciples that there were plenty of people out in the world whose souls needed to be harvested, and by this He meant redeemed from the power of the devil, the enemy of our soul.  In Luke 19:10, Jesus declared that He had come to this earth to “seek and to save the lost”.  It was His intention that after He left the earth, His disciples would pick up where He had left off as far as His ministry was concerned.  He is asking us to present the message of salvation to the lost souls of our world.

Larry R. Steffee is pastor of the Center Hill Brethren In Christ Church on Miller Road in Smithville.  Everyone is welcome to attend.  For informa-tion, you may email lrsteffeetn@yahoo.com.