In 1882, Peter J. McGuire, general secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners and a co-founder of the American Federation of Labor, suggested setting aside a day for a general holiday for the laboring classes who, from rude nature, have delved and carved all the grandeur we behold.
But Peter McGuire’s place in Labor Day history has not gone unchallenged. Many believe that machinist Matthew Maguire, not Peter McGuire, is the founder of the holiday. Maguire, the secretary of Local 344 of the International Association of Machinists in Paterson, New Jersey, may have proposed the holiday in 1882 while serving as secretary of the Central Labor Union in New York.
Labor Day is an annual celebration of the social and economic achievements of American workers.
The holiday celebrates the numerous contributions workers have made to America’s strength, prosperity, and overall well-being. So, Labor Day recognizes the American Work Ethic.
The Employers Association of the Northeast states the following:
The foundation of the American work ethic can be traced back to the early settlers, who emphasized diligence, self-reliance, and frugality.
These values, rooted in religious beliefs, became central to the country’s cultural identity.
Please note their observation that these values were rooted in religious beliefs.
My concern is to consider the question, “What is the Biblical view of work?”
As we consider this question, let’s begin with a few thoughts concerning the American work ethic.
Agricultural
First, it is essential to recognize that work has taken various forms throughout our nation’s history. In the founding of this nation, the primary form of work was agriculture. The family was primarily supported through the work of raising animals and planting, as well as harvesting, crops. Agricultural work was naturally physically demanding.
Industry
But with the evolution of industry, much of our work moved from agriculture to factory work and production lines. Again, these are constant and hard work.
Knowledge Work
Then, about 60 years ago, we witnessed a significant shift in the nation’s workforce. Peter Drucker, in his book The Landmarks of Tomorrow, first used the term “Knowledge Work” to describe work that is not manual labor. Instead, it is work that applies knowledge, concepts, and ideas to create and market products.
Why is this important? It is crucial because, in our knowledge-based work, many people are no longer performing manual labor. Where there is no manual labor, an environment can foster a less-than-stellar work ethic. So, as followers of Jesus Christ, we need to understand what the Bible says about work.
My concern is how the spiritual atmosphere of our nation affects the work ethic. When there is a disregard or abandonment of God and His spiritual truths, it will affect the work ethic. Don’t forget what the Employers Association of the Northeast said: the American work ethic is rooted in religious beliefs.
How do we define work?
“Activity involving mental or physical effort done in order to achieve a purpose or result.”
The dictionary has many definitions because the word “work” applies to many different areas. However, I want to use this definition because, fundamentally, it conveys the fact that work can be physical (as in factory work) or mental (as in knowledge work). Additionally, I do not want us to immediately think “Employment” when we hear the word “work.” Work is more than just our employment. There are some of you here today who are retired and are no longer employed. Some may have recently been let go from a job. So, you are no longer employed either. Some of you are homemakers and not employed outside of the home. However, regardless of our life circumstances, we all have some form of work that we do.
There is no better place to start than in the first book of the Bible – Genesis. I will not even begin to scratch the surface this morning concerning all the Bible has to say about work. However, I intend to highlight vital truths that challenge our thinking and align us with God’s desire for us in our work. So, let’s look at Genesis 2:15-17.
Genesis 2:15-17 (ESV)
15: The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. 16: And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, 17: but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”
In the passage before us, God places man in the garden and gives him work to do. God’s desire was for man to work. As man worked in the garden, he would enjoy it. The garden would produce food that would sustain man. However, we must not overlook the fact that God is first introduced to us in chapters one and two as a worker. I will not unpack the entire creation account. But, I do want to point us to essential truths concerning God as a worker because God is the model by which we should model our own work.
Let’s consider three aspects of God as a worker
GOD IS CREATIVE
Out of nothing, God created the whole universe. While this is a display of God’s power, we must not overlook the fact that God created something of value. Now, you and I cannot create something out of nothing. However, God has placed creative abilities within us to take the materials He has given us and create amazing things. Think about it. God gave the creative ability to invent the light bulb so we don’t need to sit in the dark. God gave us the creative ability to invent telephones, allowing us to communicate with people whether they are near or far. God gave us the creative ability to invent computers, enabling us to do amazing things with graphics, writing, printing, and even communication. The list goes on and on. Everywhere you look, we see the creative ability God has given us. But don’t miss this. God created things with inherent value. You and I should do work that creates value not only for ourselves, but also for others.
GOD IS INTENTIONAL
The second aspect of God’s work is to recognize that He created with intention. There is a specific order in Creation. Each day of the Creation builds upon the previous day. God did not just throw some materials together and hope for the best. His work in Creation was not an experiment. God’s work was intentional. We must also recognize that God created intentionally for a specific purpose.
GOD IS PURPOSEFUL
God created with a specific purpose. God’s Creation was put in place to glorify God. Psalm 19 teaches us that Creation testifies of God. In other words, Creation glorifies God. But, more specifically (concerning God’s creative work), the human race was created in the image of God. In fact, the human race is the pinnacle of God’s Creation. He honored man in a way that is different from the rest of Creation. So, unlike any other part of Creation, you and I have a special place in God’s Creation. I submit to you this morning that the work we do is a display of God’s image in us.
So, God is presented to us as a model worker. If we are created in His image, then our work must glorify Him! There is one last thing we need to be reminded of when God gave man work to do in the garden, He did so before the entrance of sin. If God is our model, please note that when He created, He delighted in His Creation. God enjoys His work. God intended the same for our work. It is only because of the presence of sin that work becomes difficult, discouraging, and a dread.
So, with this in mind, what do the scriptures teach about our work?
Again, I will not say all that could be said. I will not begin to touch the Scriptures that could be used to address the subject of work. However, I intend to address some critical aspects of our work.
Proverbs 10:4 (ESV)
A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.
The contrast presented in Proverbs 10:4 is one of poverty and wealth.
The cause of poverty is a slack hand. A hand that is not willing to do the necessary work. In contrast, wealth is produced through diligence. Diligence requires time, energy, and effort to be devoted to work. There is no place in the life of a Christian for slackness concerning their work. We must dedicate our time, energy, and effort to the work God has given us to do.
Proverbs 14:23 (ESV)
In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty.
The second truth of work is found in Proverbs 14:23. Again, the contrast is between profit and poverty. Poverty is brought about by talk with no action. Profit is produced where there is toil. Work will not always be easy. Work will sometimes be hard work. It will be a burden at times. Yet, the reward of hard work is profit. So, as we give our time, energy, and effort to our work, that toil will produce profit.
Ephesians 4:28 (ESV)
Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him work honestly with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.
The third truth I want us to consider is found in Paul’s letter to Ephesians.
Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is to instruct the Church about their life in Christ. So, he points to one who was a thief to remind the thief that he is no longer a thief. The thief who comes to Christ is a new creation in Christ. So, his life in Christ is to be lived no longer as a thief but as a worker. He is no longer to gain dishonestly through theft. Instead, he is to work to earn a profit. I want you to notice the qualities I have listed about God in his work, as they relate to this Proverb: the worker is to do honest work. This means that there must be creative and intentional work with a purpose. What is the purpose? It is to produce something of value that not only benefits yourself, but also benefits others as well.
Colossians 3:23 (ESV)
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.
Finally, I would like to examine Paul’s instructions to the Colossians.
In our context today, Paul is speaking to employees. He reminds the employee that our work is not for men. Instead, our job is for the Lord! You see, the Lord outranks your earthly employers. When you stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ, the measure of your work will not be whether you pleased your employer. The measure of our work is how we honor, please, and glorify the Lord!
Now, even though these instructions are written in the context of employment, the principle applies to any work you do. If you are working in your garden, you should do so to honor the Lord and then share with others the harvest of the crop.
If you are a homemaker, you should do so to honor the Lord and be a blessing to your family so that they benefit from your work.
If you are a street sweeper, you should do so to honor the Lord, and a beautiful community will bless others with streets that can be driven on without fear of a flat tire because of a foreign object on the street.
If you clean toilets, you should do so to honor the Lord, and others will be blessed by a clean toilet in which a person does not need to fear germs and disease.
If you are a teacher, you should teach to honor the Lord, and your students will be blessed by the knowledge, wisdom, and skill that you impart to them.
So, the question you and I should honestly deal with is, “Does my work honor and glorify the Lord?” Make your prayer today, one in which you honestly ask the Lord to show you areas of your life where your work is less than honoring to the Lord. As He reveals those areas to you, repent of them and commit to doing what is right.
REFERENCES
“The Evolution of the American Work Ethic.” Ebner, Allison. Employers Association of the Northeast. February 3, 2025.
“History of Labor Day.” Government. U.S. Department of Labor, n.d.
“Work.” Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. https:\\merriam-webster.com/dictionary/work. Accessed August 30, 2025.
