Today is Labor Day, a federal holiday that has been celebrated annually on the first Monday of September since 1894. The holiday celebrates labor, or what we know better as work. I find it amusing that a lot of people celebrate work by not working on this day. The dictionary defines work as activity in which one exerts strength or faculties to do or perform something. In other words, work produces something, be it a clean room, a plowed field, a play, a built house, or a newspaper article. Most of us moan and groan about work, and there are certainly things about our jobs that we don't enjoy or even like. But it's not work itself that we complain about. We don't mind being active, and we don't mind creating things. In fact, being creative is in our genes. We inherited it from our father, who's the greatest creator of all. What we whine about is the fact that we have to go to work when we would rather do something else, like go fishing, go shopping, or just veg out on the sofa eating potato chips all day. One of our favorite quips is this one all work and no play makes Jack and jill dull people. But work is a necessary part of life. Stuff needs to be done, and whether we like it or not, if we don't work, that stuff won't get done. So all play and no work makes Jack and Jill pretty much useless. What is needed is balance. Work and play. The Bible tells us that the Lord God planted a garden in the east, in Eden, and there he put the man he had formed to work it and to take care of it. Genesis 2815 clearly the Lord wants us to work hard. Work brings a prophet, says. Proverbs 1423 there's nothing better for a man than to enjoy his work, says the writer of ecclesiastes, because that is his lot. Ecclesiastes 322 whatever you do, wrote Paul, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for man. Colossians 323 the Lord wants us to work, to be creative, to be productive and useful. But the Lord also wants us to enjoy life, to play, and to rest from our work. Six days you shall labor and do your work, he said, but the 7th day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work. Exodus 29 ten come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, Jesus said, and I will give you rest. Matthew 1128 come with me by yourselves to a quiet place, he told his disciples, and get some rest. You see, it's all about balance. We are not to work all the time and we're not to play all the time either. It is the proper balance of the two that pleases God and makes life good.

This has been your thought for the day with Steve Burkham, pastor of Community Christian Church in Stockton, California. If you have questions or comments for Pastor Steve, please send them to dailythoughtspodcastmail.com. Have a great day and we hope you'll join us tomorrow as Pastor Steve opens God's word to bring us another thought for the day.