To the Editor:
Monday, September 2, is Labor Day in America. It’s a special day to recognize the millions who make up the nation’s working force. It’s a day of recreation, end of summer barbecues and picnicking at the lake. On Labor Day we are thankful for employment and think about the importance of work. A philosopher said, “work keeps us from three great evils: boredom, crime and poverty.” Physical work can also keep us from the evil of obesity. Tennessee has one of the highest obesity rates in the nation. Benjamin Franklin said, “When men are employed they are best contented.”
The Bible teaches there’s no retirement from God’s work and we are to attend church and serve God forever. John Calvin said God reigns everywhere and we can serve God in every area of life. The Bible commands in 1 Corinthians 10, “Whatsoever you do, do all to the glory of God.” The Bible commands in Colossians 3, “And whatsoever you do, do it heartily as to the Lord and not unto men. The Bible requires everyone to work hard and calls laziness evil and foolish. The Bible says, “If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.” One reason the Bible gives for working is “in order that he may have something to give to those in need.” The Bible priority is to help your family and church first. (Gal. 6:10) Jesus said in John 6 the most important work God wants us to do is, “that you believe on him (Jesus) whom he (God) hath sent.” Make sure you and your family attend church to get spiritual food. A great program at churches for children is the AWANA program.
If you have health and strength to work and are employed you should thank God. We should pray for the unemployed because they can become depressed and get in debt. Many who have been unemployed a long time have sold everything in yard sales and pawn shops and are selling their blood plasma every week. Jesus knows the pain of the unemployed because He was rejected and gave all His blood to pay our sin debt. The national debt is over 19 trillion dollars and growing. Our sin debt keeps growing. This Labor Day, thank God for allowing us to work and thank Jesus most of all for His finished work on the cross and resurrection, which is the “good news” and the only way to pay our sin debt and have eternal life. Amid the bad news of rising college student debt and rising national debt, the “good news” is the “good news”!
Warning! God offers eternal life through His son Jesus only while you are alive. The “Bible says the wages of sin is death.” So come to Jesus before payday. Call 1-888-need-him. Our lives can be ended quickly and unexpectedly. “Seek the Lord (Jesus) while He may be found. Call upon Him while He is near.” God’s labor is the most important and the only work that will last. “Except the Lord (Jesus) build the house they labor in vain that build it..” (Psalm 127:1) Thankfully, God is still actively working and is very much in complete control.
The great new movie, “Overcomer,” reminds Christian viewers their identity is in Jesus not in the work they do or in social media or anything else. See www.overcomer.com. The Bible says we overcome by the blood (of Jesus) and our testimony and not by our works or anything else. Our work also produces the need for rest. Thus Jesus in Matthew 11, invites all laborers: “Come unto me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” One pastor said, “Could there be any finer celebration of Labor Day than for one to cease from sinful labors and enter into Jesus Christ’s rest?” Only with our complete trust in Jesus can we rest in peace now and forever!

D.D. Nave
Elizabethton