Thank You For Your Time

Labor Day 2010

Happy Labor Day

Not just a day off or the end of summer, but a day to celebrate the American Worker

What would the world be like if people didn't work?

Alabama - 40 Hour Week (1985)

There are people in this country who work hard every day

Not for fame or fortune do they strive

But the fruits of their labor are worth more than their pay

And it's time a few of them were recognized

Hello Detroit auto worker, let me thank you for your time

You work a forty hour week for a livin', just to send it on down the line

Hello Pittsburgh steel mill worker, let me thank you for your time

You work a forty hour week for a livin', just to send it on down the line

This is for the one who swings the hammer, driving home the nail

For the one behind the counter, ringing up the sales

For the one who fights the fires, the one who brings the mail

For everyone who works behind the scenes

You can see them every morning in the factories and the fields

Working together like spokes inside a wheel

They keep this country turning around

Hello Kansas wheat field farmer, let me thank you for your time

You work a forty hour week for a livin', just to send it on down the line

Hello West Virginia coal miner, let me thank you for your time

You work a forty hour week for a livin', just to send it on down the line

This is for the one who drives the big rig, up and down the road

For the one out in the warehouse, bringing in the load

For the waitress, the mechanic, the policeman on patrol

For everyone who works behind the scenes

With a spirit you can't replace with no machine

Hello America let me thank you for your time

It's an inspiring song

A reminder that our country is great because of people who work hard. the song is a tribute to them, to us.

A reminder that the greatest asset this country has is the human resources - that is what makes us great.

Work isn’t something we always associate as a theological topic, but the Bible does talk about work. Even from the very beginning.

Work is God's idea

Genesis 2:15

The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.

After the Fall work became a lot harder, but even before the Fall man was placed in the Garden to work. Work is a good thing.

A bad day on the golf course is better than a good day at work.

Exodus 20:9 - Six days you shall labor and do all your work,

Thought continued on the NT

2 Thessalonians 3:6 (NIV) - In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us.

2 Thessalonians 3:11–13 (NIV) - 11 We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. 12 Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat. 13 And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right.

God's Kingdom Requires Workers

Ever read Numbers

Not the most popular book in the Bible

A few unique stories from the Wilderness Wanderings of the Hebrews

Balaam's Donkey

The Bronze Serpent

It's starts as a census

Moses commanded by God to count all the people

He gets all the people together divided by tribes (1:5-15)

These tribes coincide with the 12 sons of Jacob who was renamed Israel by God

Jacob was Abraham's grandson - to whom the promise was made that his descendents would be a great nation.

Why - to see what the people had in terms of human resources.

Who would be able to fight.

Each one of these tribes are assigned a location around the tabernacle - a traveling temple of sorts.

When you look through that list - one son is missing - Levi

But he doesn't count the tribe of Levi

Levi has a special work - taking care of the tabernacle itself

These people were called priests - they oversaw the religious work of the people

Then who would be able to serve in the tabernacle work.

They were given assignments to make sure the tabernacle -make sure everything was in order.

When the people moved the Levites were charged with moving the tabernacle and all its furnishings - and there were specific instructions on how to move things.

There's lots of work to do among God's people!