God’s labor of love from us

In regards to Labor day it is interesting how God views labor in many ways. He is very much for our working and providing for ourselves and our family. Even Paul says we must work in 2 Thessalonians 3:10 in order to eat anyone who does not should not be allowed to eat. So labor in the purest sense is a delight from God in many ways.

One of the most spoken but not fully applied scriptures is:

Matthew 11:28-30 New International Version

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

This shows a light burden versus the heavy one we bear outside of being Christ-like. So what does in mean my yoke is easy my burden is light?

One of the best quotes out there is “If you love your job you will never work a day in your life.” In a similar way that is what Christ is describing here.

Many of us have things we love and put an effort into. Some love our careers, hobbies, sports we play even being with others. It is interesting to often hear the stories of hunters and fishermen getting up at 4AM packing the car full of gear, heading out to a remote location sometimes in cold and rain to sit there for hours waiting to catch something. The only complaint usually from them is when they get nothing out of their efforts. Some think about hunting or fishing a lot, even when they are not doing it as a way to escape the everyday toil to do something they enjoy.

Think about that in regards to what Christ says in Matthew 11:28. If you apply a love to the sport like hunters and fishermen do to being a disciple of Christ your yoke becomes easy, your burden becomes light because you love the way he has and doing it every day. The nice thing is we are called to do it every day and we have to promise that he approves of us for living his way.

The life of a Christian is anything but easy. Many have lost important things along the way or have suffered even into death. It may not seem easy to an outsider, to the world it would seem like we enjoy getting hurt and suffering in some kind of sadistic behavior. The reality is we suffer gladly as a Christian because we have gained Christ. We are called to suffer as he suffered for us. That is also a delight to know we partake in his suffering like he did for us. Remember we either serve him or we serve sin.

Those who would rather serve sin end up paying the price for it during and after. Labor is in vain and does not have a reward waiting for it but the grave. It may seem easy to give into carnal desires at first but often the price is much higher than we ever thought it would be. Some may not realize how high until they stand in Judgement before God and Jesus Christ. So realize that being Christian is one of the hardest things to be but if you love him and his way, like the old saying goes “you will never work a day in your life.”

Happy Sabbath!

Your brother in Christ,

Steve Koenig