By Cindy Phillips
It’s Labor Day and that got me thinking about “labor” in the Bible. The labor I am thinking about is work (rather than labor in giving birth). 4 noteable Scriptures came to mind.
Matthew 11:28
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Notice the connection between labor and rest. They are opposites. You come to Jesus with your labors and in exchange, He will give you rest. I like that imagery. Labor Day in the United States of America is supposed to be just that; a day off from your labors where you can rest. Tuesday comes and it’s back to work. The rest Jesus gives, though, is eternal!
John 6:27
Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”
Oooooo, I like this reference! We, as believers, are to labor but, in contrast to the world, we are not to labor for food that perishes but the food that endures for all eternity. Notice where this food comes from! Jesus!!! Now that’s labor that has great reward.
1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
Here the Apostle Paul is encouraging the reader in their labors. The work you are doing in the Lord is not vain, meaning not worthless. As stated in the John reference above, Godly labor leads to eternal rewards. Notice this takes a steadfast, non-wavering attitude. That speaks of the quality of the work. You are to always be abounding in this work, which speaks to the quantity.
Hebrews 4:11 Let us therefore labor to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.
Lastly, take a look at this reference. It brings us full circle to our first reference in Matthew (eternal rest). In context, the writer is referring to the Israelites wandering in the desert. They did not obtain the promised land because of their disobedience (and unbelief, i.e. lack of faith). They would have found rest if they had trusted God. There is a rest promised to believers. It is found not by the lazy or complacent, but by those who faithfully do the works God created for them to do.
Be faithful in all you are called to do, knowing confidently you will be rewarded with true rest, which is eternal life. Please don’t misinterpret me here. You are saved by grace through faith, but you are also expected to “labor”. You were created FOR good works! Unlike the world’s work, doing the Lord’s work should be easy and light, not burdensome.