Labor today is under a heavy load of stress. The pandemic has caused 18 million working people to lose their jobs. Almost 30 million have filed for unemployment insurance averaging about 1 million new unemployment claims filed every month since the pandemic started. More than 54 million people face hunger every day right now. Hunger is defined as taking in 1,800 calories per day or less. Of that number, 18 million are children. The health crisis caused by the pandemic has created a second-wave pandemic in joblessness and hunger. We come to Labor Day this year celebrating the dignity of work, but we also grieve for those who suffer because their work has been lost.
Here is a verse to remember during this time of difficulty:
Here is a verse to remember during this time of difficulty:
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that though He was rich yet,
for your sake He became poor,
so that you through His poverty might become rich.”
that though He was rich yet,
for your sake He became poor,
so that you through His poverty might become rich.”
(2 Corinthians 8:9)
Jesus never went a single day without meaningful work to do. The Bible says, “You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil for God was with Him.” (Acts 10:38)
Doing good was His job and He did it well. Work is good. Work is beneficial and therapeutic. Without meaningful work, none of us are as fulfilled and happy as we should be. During these days of lay-offs and furloughs, find something good to do. Help somebody in need. Extend a kind word or lend a hand to someone. Doing good for others does something really good for you.
Jesus never went a single day without meaningful work to do. The Bible says, “You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil for God was with Him.” (Acts 10:38)
Doing good was His job and He did it well. Work is good. Work is beneficial and therapeutic. Without meaningful work, none of us are as fulfilled and happy as we should be. During these days of lay-offs and furloughs, find something good to do. Help somebody in need. Extend a kind word or lend a hand to someone. Doing good for others does something really good for you.
Do you know somebody who is hungry?
Have you seen somebody on the streets who may be hungry?
Have you seen somebody on the streets who may be hungry?
Last week there was a young man on our church property who has been homeless since March. His name is James. I approached him and began a conversation. I learned that he had not eaten all day, so I gave him a $10 bill to go and find something to eat. When I gave him the money, I talked with him about Jesus who knows what hunger is all about. I told him that Jesus fed 5,000 people one day. I shared that Jesus fasted for 40 days in the wilderness and was hungry at the end of it. I shared with him that Jesus knows what hunger feels like because he had been hungry himself.
Maybe this Labor Day you might want to feed somebody who is hungry. Ask God to put somebody in your path that you can help. Reach out and find a person who has lost their job or been laid off. Take them something to eat and pray with them. Give someone a job to do around your house or in your yard. Pay them well so they can use the money you provide to buy food or pay a bill. Celebrate the spirit of good work by helping someone do something good for you.
Maybe this Labor Day you might want to feed somebody who is hungry. Ask God to put somebody in your path that you can help. Reach out and find a person who has lost their job or been laid off. Take them something to eat and pray with them. Give someone a job to do around your house or in your yard. Pay them well so they can use the money you provide to buy food or pay a bill. Celebrate the spirit of good work by helping someone do something good for you.
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