This Monday, the United States and Canada celebrate Labor Day, held the first Monday of every September to honor working people (similar to most other countries’ “May Day”). Although it is common for Christians to think of “work” as a result of the Fall in the Garden of Eden, this is not so: Adam and Eve were given the task of exercising dominion over all the earth from the beginning.
Christians also think of “working for the Lord” in terms of missionary activities, and various mercy ministries, but worship is itself work. Of course, when we see that worship involves all of life, presenting all of ourselves to God (Romans 12:1) then we understand that these other activities are acts of worship and, as John Piper and Matt Redman have said, “worship is the fuel for mission’s flame.”
But even our corporate worship services involve work. All churches follow a certain order, a liturgy (of course, some “liturgical” churches have a highly defined liturgy, while “free” churches follow a loose pattern of activity like “first we pray, then we sing, then we listen to the sermon,” etc.) The term “liturgy” literally means “the work of the people.” As John Frame writes:
“Worshipers should not take a passive attitude toward worship, such as we usually take toward entertainment … worship is a priestly service. It is latreia, ‘labor, service.’ Therefore, we should go to church to do something: to bring praise to God and to minister to one another.”
Worship In Spirit And Truth, c. 1996 John Frame
So to be in Christ means both to enter “into His rest” (Hebrews 4) and to work — to know that we will always work, and that as the Westminster Catechism states, this involves glorifying God and enjoying Him forever. We will not always feed the hungry, because one day no one will hunger. We will not always comfort the grieving, because one day no one will grieve. We will not always protect the weak, because one day their will be no oppressor. But we will worship, and be glad to do it.
Here is a poem I wrote that is suitable for Labor Day. I was inspired by Sojourn pastor Daniel Montgomery’s teaching on workplace theology and a phrase in Carl P. Daw, Jr.’s “What Boundless Love, O Carpenter Of Nazareth.” For those of you interested in poetic meter, I wrote this in 76.76.78.76 meter. Feel free to reproduce this poem in you Sunday Bulletins.
God of shop and marketplace,
Of farm and studio,
Factory and shipping lane,
Of school and busy home:
Bless the produce of our hands.
Redeem our work for Kingdom-use.
By Your grace, our efforts stand,
All offered up to You.
There in Eden, You proclaimed
That we should work the earth –
Stewards over all we named,
Delighting in their worth.
Through our fall we brought decay,
Lost access to Jehovah’s rest.
Through the cross, we rest in faith
And all our labor’s blessed.
In Your image we are made:
Creative like You are,
Forming goods for use and trade
Just like You formed the stars.
Send us out in power and skill
To worship through each task assigned.
By Your Spirit we fulfill
The holy, grand design.
Have a great Labor Day Weekend. I’ll continue to publish here at sojournmusic.com — look for the second installment in our “Worship Practices Explained” series, as well as free solo music from the male vocalist behind Sojourn’s Before the Throne. Then on Labor Day, check out our “Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs” article, the weekly look at our music set list from the Sunday worship services, with mp3 links, photos, lyrics and more.
As webmaster for our church, I would like to post your poem/song “God of shop and marketplace” on our homepage for labor day. It is beautiful and true! Plus, it gives the glory to God that he deserves.
May I use it for the month of September?
Your sister in Christ,
Nancy
May I read your labor day poem at my church please?
Absolutely, Nancy. I’m honored.
Thank you so much! Check it out.
http://www.firstfreewillbaptistonline.org
I will be reading your site often; it is wonderful!
Nancy
Bobby,
I type our church bulletin. I would love to include your poem in this Sunday’s bulletin. Would you grant me your permission. I love the poem and I know the congregation of my church will too. I attend the Union Street Wesleyan Church in Delphi, Indiana.
Thanks for your consideration.
Cindy benner
Cindy, thanks for the kind words. Feel free to use the poem in your bulletin!
I would like to use this as part of worship too (with your permission). By the way, I love your website.
Thanks Julie! I’m very honored. Anyone who wants to print the poem for their worship services may do so.
I am also using your poem for our bulletin tomorrow. I was sitting here thinking what poem or story i could use and decided to search “Christian Labor Day Poem” and then chose this website. God is so Good!
Thank you for these wonderful words. I will use this poem in our September newsletter. Blessings!
You’re welcome!
I’ve been given the task of developing a special worship service for Labor day. I found your site through Google. May I use your poem as a responsive reading?
Thank you for the wonderful insights!
Dianne Anthony
Absolutely! Glad you found it here at sojournmusic.com.
I would like to use your poem in my Labor Day sermon and print it in the worship bulletin. May I have your premission?
Thank you,
Sure, Karl. Thanks!
Thank you for such a well written poem – I am going to use it Sunday during worship – I am the worship leader in our church and enjoy sharing Christian poems, readings that I find, yours was very good.
Bobby,
I also type our church bulletin and just found your poem. I would love to include it in this Sunday’s bulletin. Would you please grant me your permission?
Thank you and God bless!
Jill Kaufman
Mercy and Truth Fellowship Church
Bonne Terre, MO
Jill, Marian, thanks for sharing your interest! I’m happy for you to use my poem.
Thank you for allowing me to use your beautiful Labor Day Poem. I looked for over an hour trying to find just the right poem for our Church Bulletin on Sunday and came across your web sight. You are a very inspirational writer and again I thank you! Have a Glorious Weekend!
I would like your permission to use this poem in our church bulletin. It was a powerful and uplifting and will fit the holiday perfectly.
Absolutely Jerry.
And you’re welcome, Sherrie. Thanks for your kind words!
Bobby,
I type our churches bulletin and ran across your poem…I would love to include it in this weeks church bulletin with your permission….Thanks so much!
Sure, Amber. I’m honored.
I would Love to use the Poem in my church bulletin! May, I use this poem please….Thanks!!
Yes Dorothy. I’m glad you like it!