For a lot of people Labor Day means two things: a day off and the end of summer. But why is it called Labor Day? Labor Day is a day set aside to pay tribute to working men and women. It has been celebrated as a national holiday in the United States and Canada since 1894.
Labor unions themselves celebrated the first labor days in the United States, although there's some speculation as to exactly who came up with the idea. Most historians credit Peter McGuire, general secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners and a cofounder of the American Federation of Labor, with the original idea of a day for workers to show their solidarity. Others credit Matthew Maguire, later the secretary of Local 344 of the International Association of Machinists in Paterson, N.J.
The first Labor Day parade occurred Sept. 5, 1882, in New York City. The workers' unions chose the first Monday in September because it was halfway between Independence Day and Thanksgiving. The idea spread across the country, and some states designated Labor Day as a holiday before the federal holiday was created.
President Grover Cleveland signed a law designating the first Monday in September as Labor Day nationwide. This is interesting because Cleveland was not a labor union supporter. In fact, he was trying to repair some political damage that he suffered earlier that year when he sent federal troops to put down a strike by the American Railway Union at the Pullman Co. in Chicago, IL.
That action resulted in the deaths of 34 workers.
In European countries, China and other parts of the wiorld, May Day, the first day in May, is a holiday to celebrate workers and labor unions. Before it became an international workers holiday, May Day was a celebration of spring and the promise of summer.
Membership in labor unions in the United States reached an all-time high in the 1950s when about 40 percent of the work force belonged to unions.
Today, union membership is about 14 percent of the working population. Labor Day now carries less significance as a celebration of working people and more as the end of summer. Schools, government offices and businesses are closed on Labor Day so people can get in one last trip to the beach or have one last cookout before the weather starts to turn colder.
According to above article Labor Day is for working men and women. Remember that we are labourers together with God. God's word also says "ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building."
The greatest labor a person can be called to is the labor of the gospel. Man sets a day aside to celebrate the accomplishments of man, and yet we are called to be to be fellow labors with God and most people don't give this a second thought.accomplishments of man, and yet we are called to be to be fellow labors with God and most people don't give this a second thought.
Luke 10:1-2 1After these things the Lord appointed other seventy alsTherefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.
There has always been a need for men and woman of God to rise up to their calling. It is always easier to remain seated and let a few do the work for the many.eed for men and woman of God to rise up to their calling. It is always easier to remain seated and let a few do the work for the many.
The truth is; God is waiting for you. Only you can bring to the body of Christ that long suit, gift or ability that God has blessed you with.
1 Corinthians 12:14-20 14For the body is not one member, but many. 15If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 16And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?17If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? 18But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. 19And if they were all one member, where were the body? 20But now are they many members, yet but one body.
Herein lies a great paradox. How many can be one. The only way the gospel can continue to move in our day is for men, woman and children to rise up and take their place in the body of Christ. God has set you in the church as it has pleased him. Now our goal is to be pleasing to him.
Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
When we allow God to work in us we are fellow labors together with him.
We depend on his ability and direction to guide and accomplish the work he has set before us.
Philippians 2:14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
God will not over step your free will. He will call you and encourage you however if we fight against him we shoot ourselves in the foot so to speak. When the body of Christ refuses to listen and obey the father's direction and instruction we all suffer.
1 Corinthians 12:21-27 21And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. 22Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: 23And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. 24For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: 25That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. 26And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.27Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
We should labor together for the furtherance of the gospel .In order to do this we need to take our place in the body of Christ and begin to work together. Don't be so concerned about what your fellow believer is doing. Each person is a member in particular. As we get busy doing the things our father has called us to do then our labor will not be in vain and God will be well please.
1 Corinthians 10:1-6 1Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;3And did all eat the same spiritual meat;4And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. 5But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.6Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
We have many examples set forth in God's holy word to teach us the right way to walk. As we walk together bound in the love of God we can continue to labor together for our lord Jesus Christ. This means we put aside those things that would call us off the path of righteousness and esteem others higher then ourselves.
1 Peter 4:8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
Make it a goal this month to seek out someone and bless them. Encourage them in their labor for the lord and help them understand that the body of Christ needs them.ÿ
Note: All scripture is from the King James Version unless otherwise noted. NIV indicates The New International Version, NLT indicates the New Living Translation, NAS indicates the New American Standard version, NKJV indicates the New King James Version, ASV means the American Standard Version, NJB means the New Jerusalem Bible, BBE means the Bible in Basic English, DBY means the Darby translation, NAU means the American Standard Version, 1995 Edition, and NAB means the New American Bible translation. For more information, go to the Works Cited page.