The Sacred Gift of Labor

Ecclesiastes 3:13 That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God.

The Sacred Gift of Labor

Summary: Our daily work, in all its forms, is a sacred gift and an act of worship when offered to God with love and integrity.

Dear Friends,

This weekend, our country pauses to mark Labor Day. For many, it’s the signal of summer’s end—one more barbecue, one more trip, one more long weekend. But at its heart, Labor Day is about something deeply spiritual: the dignity of work and the people who do it.

As Christians, we believe that work is not just a way to make a living; it is one of the ways we worship God. From the very beginning of Scripture, God is pictured as a worker—creating, planting, shaping, building, and blessing. When we labor with our hands, our minds, or our hearts, we are reflecting God’s own creative nature.

What we do Monday through Friday is just as sacred as what we do on Sunday morning. Every spreadsheet balanced, every meal prepared, every child taught, every patient cared for, every act of service or leadership offered—all of it can be worship when it is done with love, integrity, and in the spirit of Christ. As Paul writes: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord” (Colossians 3:23).

This is good news for all of us. It means our labor, paid and unpaid, is not unnoticed or unimportant. It means that even the small, ordinary tasks of life—folding laundry, fixing a leak, making a phone call, tending a garden—can become holy offerings when we dedicate them to God. Our work is one of the ways we live out our calling to love our neighbors and build up the common good.

So this week, as we enjoy a holiday set aside to honor workers, let us also remember that God honors work itself. May we approach our tasks, big or small, with renewed gratitude, seeing them as acts of worship. And may we encourage one another in the work God has entrusted to us—knowing that it is through the labors of our hands, hearts, and minds that God’s kingdom is revealed in the world.

With gratitude for all the ways you labor in Christ’s name,in the church, in your homes, and in the wider community—

Faithfully yours,

Pastor Anny

The Rev. Dr. Anny Genato+

Rector