It has been said far too many times that if you love what you do, you will never work a day in your life.

For some, work is more like a curse, and each day a struggle for motivation to keep going. There are those who view work as simply a means to an end. They go to work day after day to generate enough income for the pursuit of various dreams or to simply put food on the table and keep a roof over their head. Work can be viewed, in some senses, as a four-letter word.

What is not said often enough is that there is a sacredness to work; that viewed rightly, we can see a divine purpose in our work and a certain fulfillment that can accompany our work.

God has always considered work of great value and is oft to reward it. In the beginning one of the first gifts that God gave to Adam was the opportunity to work and maintain the perfect garden that God had created.

“The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.” Genesis 2:15 ESV.

This was before the fall of mankind, so it wasn’t a punishment laid upon Adam’s shoulders, but an opportunity to participate in the sustaining of God’s ordered creation.

Nevertheless, some still see work as a curse, as something that we have to do in order to have the financial means to do what we consider “real” life. But this misses the more noble aspect of our work: loving our neighbor.

Yes, our work is often a means of loving our neighbors.

Our work often impacts the lives of those we provide products or services to. Without farmers growing corn, cattle or chickens, many would have no food. That food also has to be processed and packaged before it makes it to our tables.

Without medical personnel, we would have a much more difficult time staying well, or at times, staying alive. Without carpenters, many wouldn’t have homes or business facilities. Take a moment and think about all the people who benefit from the work you do.

Our work provides products or services our neighbors need and income that our families rely on. When we view the day-to-day grind of our employment cycle each week as a part of our Godgiven purpose in our community and in our homes, it takes on a different flavor. It becomes more than just work, it becomes sacred.

So, as we recently celebrated Labor Day by taking a rest from our labors, let’s ponder the dignity of our work and the sacredness of its value in our community and for our families.

Pastor Rich Cummings was called to Emmanuel Baptist Church in August 2022 and he has been a pastor since 2006. He has an MDiv from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He may be reached at rich@ebccassville. com.