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Word Wisdom: Labour

The latest inspirational column from Rev. Dr. John Kreutzwieser
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Word Wisdom

“Six days you shall labour and do all your work,” records Deuteronomy chapter 5. Things have changed quite a bit since those words were penned. Now we have a 5-day work week for some, with a flex day for many. There are “Happy Fridays” and long weekends and shortened weeks. The old 9 to 5 working hours, five days a week, with every weekend off, are practically nonexistent today.

Labour is a significant portion of our existence. Labour is noble in the teachings of the Bible. As Psalm 128 says, “You shall eat the fruit of the labour of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you.” The Hebrew word is yawgeeah (labour, work) from the root word yawgah, which means to grow weary from toil. Labour is work. But it is a good work. Labour gives us the currency to live. Blessed are those who labour. Labour may not be easy, but it is integral to our lives.

One of the election issues is how the government can create a climate of employment so that labour can be participated in by all who want and need it. All of us have various vocations in our lives, which is our labour. How can a just society recognize and sustain innumerable types of labour? Labour can be done by a factory worker, a farmer, a mother, an office worker, a thinker, etc. Labour takes effort and gives purpose to life. We often view labour too narrowly and look forward to the day when retirement kicks in and labour is done. But labour is never finished as long as life endures. It just changes form.

Labour Day is a time to rejoice in all kinds of vocations and work. Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 1:3, “remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labour of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” To love one another is a labour. Can this thought be part of our Labour Day reflections?
Jesus said, “Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Labour can be challenging. Whatever the vocation we often grow weary in our yawgeeah because that is the nature of doing things in this world. So Jesus Christ offers a rest for souls that seek refreshment and strength. Not to eliminate labour but to enhance the effectiveness of our vocations.

The prophet Isaiah posed the question, “Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your yawgeeah for that which does not satisfy?” You may labour very successfully in accumulating wealth but isn’t life more than money? Jesus said, “Take care, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” Then he told them a story, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.” But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’”

Isaiah recorded an answer to the question. The Lord says, “Listen, diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live.”

As you move on from this Labour Day weekend, take stock of your labour (all the various vocations you are involved with), and acknowledge what labour is adding to your life. Labour is good and noble. 

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication.  



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