Can you believe it -- tomorrow is Labor Day. The unofficial end of the summer. Time to say good-bye to summer friends and summer places. A last chance to catch our breath before facing the back-to-school rush and that fall to-do list. And as the days get shorter and summer fades, our thoughts turn from recreation to work.

One hundred and twenty-five years ago, the first Labor Day was celebrated in New York City to honor labor and publicly show the strength and esprit de corps of the labor movement. Perhaps more interesting, in 1909, the Sunday before Labor Day was adopted as Labor Sunday and dedicated to the spiritual aspects of the labor movement.

What an interesting combination, labor and the spiritual. Work and religion. Isn't work what we do during the week and religion what we do on Sundays? Is there any connection between two?

There isn't if you believe the results of an American Management Association survey. Back in the 80s, the AMA published a report on "How American Chief Executives Succeed." Over 700 CEOs participated in the study. One of the survey questions asked, "What were the key influences in helping you to become successful?" Of the 21 influences or values that the CEOs identified, not one mentioned any of spiritual, religious, moral, or ethical significance.

It is a common problem -- separating our religious life of Sunday from our Monday-through-Friday weekday life. Many times the Christian teachings we learn and are reminded of on Sundays get lost in the secular working world, no matter what kind of paid or unpaid work we may do.

I remember when I worked in the corporate world, I would leave for work on Mondays filled with the teachings of Sunday and having all good intentions to live out my faith with integrity and consistency, doing unto others as I would have them do unto me.

But it seemed that no sooner would I enter the office building than my Christian good will was overpowered by a corporate culture of unhealthy competition, criticism and office politics. With every passing day of the week, I seemed to stray further and further from the Christian teachings of the previous Sunday. And just when it seemed that I was on the verge of totally losing my moral bearings, Sunday would come around again, and I would be once again centered by the word of God and the teachings of Jesus.

Yes, it can be difficult to make the Sunday-Monday connection. But being a working person on Monday does not mean we can't also be a Christian, that same Christian we were the day before at Sunday worship.

For many of us, work is a primary source of meaning and self-esteem, and often it is also a source of our identity – we are what we do. But if we develop even a little of our identity through our work, and we also want our identity to be as a Christian, then it follows that we would bring our faith into our work and that the way we carry out our work would reflect our Christianity. But even in the best of circumstances, this can be difficult. It’s not always easy doing the Christian thing at work where one’s value as a human being is often measured by where you fall on the organization chart, or by your salary level, or by the result of your last performance review.

If we like our work, we might see it as a gift from God and give thanks for our blessings. But if we find our work to be monotonous, stressful, or difficult, how do we make that spiritual connection?

It has been said, "Work you enjoy is the best guarantee you can find for a long, happy, and healthy life." And there is an old Chinese proverb, often attributed to Confucius, which says:

To be happy for an hour, take a nap.
To be happy for one day, go fishing.
To be happy for a month, inherit a fortune.
But to be happy for life, love your work.

And there is another saying that goes, “Do what you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life.” That is a wonderful thought, but reality tells us that many people have jobs which are merely endured rather than enjoyed. In these circumstances, we must re-frame our sense of self, apart from our work role, remembering that God accepts people for whom they are rather than for what they do.

It is probably not a surprise to you that the Bible has a lot to say about work. The very first verse of the Bible tells us that God is working: "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth" [Gen 1:1]. The Bible makes it very clear that work matters to God. Work is a part of God's overall plan, not only for our physical survival, but also for our mental and emotional well-being. We are created in God's image, and that image is one of a working, creating, sustaining God.

In this morning’s lesson from Ecclesiastes, the cynical Qoholeth also speaks of work, despairing that his labors would yield nothing from which he might benefit. And in Proverbs, there is much said about idleness and sloth, diligence and faithfulness.

In the New Testament, work and faith are connected. In addition to their ministries, Jesus worked in a carpenter's shop, and the Apostle Paul manufactured tents. And in Colossians [3:17], we are told to "work with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men."
How we view our work is ultimately a religious question, and we can find meaning in our work when we see it in relationship to God's work.

And whether we are in paid or unpaid occupations, as Christians we are called upon to perform our work "doing the will of God from our hearts." If we view life as meaningful, purposeful, and having direction, then we can see the interconnectedness of our work with God's plan. The farmer provides food, the teacher helps young minds grow, the paramedic, nurse, and doctor save lives. The retailer brings goods into the community that improves the quality of life. It makes no difference what you do, it has a place in God's plan for the world.

How do you spend your day? Crunching the department budget? Tearing out walls in an old building? Raising your children or looking after your grandkids? Sweating out an important presentation? Taking a hard look at your company's investments? Troubleshooting a problem on the assembly line? Pulling together your lesson plan for tomorrow's class?

God cares about all of these things. Through our work, no matter how secular it may seem, we are partners with our Creator in all creation. We each have the opportunity to do our part in working with God. Our work, no matter what it is, can help us fulfill the biblical mandate, "Serve the Lord in whatever you do."

To make the Sunday-Monday connection, try to see yourself as a disciple of Christ in every job you do. In every job there is an opportunity for ministry; you may not do the most exciting work in the world, but each of us can elevate our work by showing compassion, kindness, love, and gentleness and by dedicating our labor to the glory of God.

And by dedicating your work, your labor, your tasks, what ever they may be, to the glory of God, you will make the connection between Sunday morning worship and Monday morning work.

And you will be showing the world that the God of Sunday is also the Lord of the workweek.

Amen.

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