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"The sleep of a laboring man is sweet" (Ecclesiastes 5:12). "Then man goes out to his work, to his labor until evening" (Psalm 104:23).

Today is "Labor Day" here in the United States. Most American workers are off work today so we may have a decrease in regular readers. For most Americans this is an extended week-end and the unofficial end of summer.

But over the years we use this date as a time to examine what the Bible says about labor which is a lot. When I pastored I often preached a sermon on that theme the Sunday before Labor Day in seeking to follow Paul's example in Acts 20: "I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you" (v.20), and "proclaim to you the whole will of God" (v.27).

Over 40 years ago when we were establishing a new congregation in Northern Pennsylvania we looked for creative ways to have a witness for Christ while also promoting our young church. Nearby Bennett’s Valley, a string of small mining villages always had a parade on Labor Day and we sought to get a witness for the Lord by participating in the parade.

We developed a float using the "Labor" theme and based it on Scripture. Pulling a trailer behind our church van we set it up like a working man's bedroom. Ken Ginther, a great big lumbering man in our church volunteered to lay on the bed pretending to be sleeping. His work boots and other evidence of a laboring man were displayed next to his bed. We had a battery-operated cassette player (hi-tech at that time) played a recording of loud snoring and a big banner on each side of the float declared, "The sleep of a laboring man is sweet". I am sure that this was the most unusual float that Bennett’s Valley parade ever had to this day!

There's just no sleep as sound as the sleep following a hard day of work. I particularly recall those times in my life when I did hard physical labor such as farm work during my college years and later several elements of construction. There's indeed a special sweetness to the sleep that follows physically hard labor. But that's also true of a day of productivity requiring much brain activity.

Today you may be off work and perhaps you've given little thought to labor but I hope you thank God for your job including the hard work. I believe that's one way we please and honor God!  We also consider those who are trying to find work and consider the stress and worry that results from such an experience.

I pray that each of us will work diligently at whatever tasks God has called us to do as an expression of our faith, obedience, and gratitude.

Be encouraged today!  Hebrews 3:13

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber