As Americans paused last weekend to celebrate Labor Day, it’s worth reflecting on what Scripture teaches us about work.
From the opening pages of Genesis, we see that work is not a curse but a calling. God Himself is a worker, creating the heavens and the earth, shaping order from chaos, and declaring His creation “good.”
Made in His image, we too are designed to be creative and productive -- whether building homes, raising families, cultivating land, or innovating in business. Work is dignified because it mirrors our Creator.
Yet, Scripture also reminds us that we are not defined solely by our labor. After six days of creation, God rested. He set apart the Sabbath not because He needed a break but because He wanted to establish a rhythm for His people: a time to cease striving, to enjoy the fruits of labor, and to be renewed in Him.
Psalm 127 tells us, “It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for He gives to His beloved sleep.” Work and productivity are good, but work without rest becomes idolatry.
In America, we often miss this balance. Our culture prizes busyness and achievement, sometimes at the expense of family, community, and even faith. We wear exhaustion like a badge of honor, but too often forget that ceaseless striving leaves us burned out and disconnected.
This truth struck me afresh during my recent trip to Sweden. There, I encountered the tradition of fika -- a daily pause to gather with friends or coworkers over coffee and a sweet treat. Fika isn’t about gulping down caffeine on the go, it’s about deliberately slowing down, reconnecting, and savoring both rest and relationship.
It reminded me of Ecclesiastes 3:13: “That everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God’s gift to man.”
The Swedes understand something Americans often forget: rest is not wasted time, it is a gift!
Holidays should be more than barbecues and store sales. They should be a reminder to see work as a sacred calling but also to embrace rest as part of God’s design. If we follow the biblical rhythm of work and rest, we will not only be more productive but also more joyful, more creative, and more present with the people who matter most.
Each week, let’s celebrate both sides of the biblical vision: to work diligently as unto the Lord, and to rest gratefully in the fruits of our labor. After all, our ultimate hope is not in what we build, but in the One who built us.
Notice: This column is printed with permission. Opinion pieces published by AFN.net are the sole responsibility of the article's author(s), or of the person(s) or organization(s) quoted therein, and do not necessarily represent those of the staff or management of, or advertisers who support the American Family News Network, AFN.net, our parent organization or its other affiliates.
