Our Labor for the Lord

Our Labor for the Lord

 

Psalm 127: 1 Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.

 

On September 5, 1882 the first official Labor Day celebration was held in New York City. Twelve years later it was made a federal holiday. Once a year as a nation we stop working to acknowledge all the contributions of workers to the fabric of this nation. When we drive along highways, realize that someone paved that lane you are in. Before them, someone cleared the area so a highway could be paved. Before them, someone explored the unknown wilderness so that one day someone could clear the area; so that someone could pave the highway. Work builds upon work. As it goes in the world, so it also stands in the eternal. Except there should be no day off...

 

For the believer, every day should be Labor Day. We cannot take a day off to celebrate, hold a parade to honor ourselves, or relax in some level of achievement. Because our enemy does not rest in his pursuit:

 

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1Peter 5: 8 (NIV)

 

Alert not asleep! Our work requires diligence and steadfastness. What work? Looking at our key verse for today we see the Psalmist differentiates between two types of work. The first is a personal work the act of building our house, our walk, our lives in Jesus Christ. The second is a corporate work the act of building the Kingdom of God.

 

The personal work of building who we are in Christ is an ongoing process. Sometimes we confuse salvation as strictly an event instead of also as the progression Scripture teaches:

 

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. Philippians 2: 12-13 (NIV)