The late 1800s in the U.S. marked the height of the Industrial Revolution. The average American worker worked 12 hours a day, seven days a week in order to earn a basic living wage. Children as young as 5 and 6 worked in mills, factories, and mines, often in very dangerous working conditions. American labor unions, which had been around since the late 1700s, became increasingly vocal about poor wages and labor conditions. Several protests and riots broke out across the nation and on September 5, 1882, 10,000 workers took unpaid time off to march from City Hall to Union Square in NYC, which was the very first Labor Day parade.
Work today, though necessary, has become somewhat of a status symbol for many Americans. We live in an age of opportunity and extreme wealth. Many successful people show off their wealth with flashy things. In the first century, up to one third of Roman homes had slaves. Paul addresses the Christian slaves this way: “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ” (Colossians 3:23-24).
Though slavery was abolished in America, the same principle remains: whatever we do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not men. We should tackle everything we do in life with our whole heart and know that we are working for the Lord and that our reward is our eternal inheritance. We are serving the Lord Christ and not men. There is no partiality with Christ. Anyone who wrongs someone else will be paid back for the wong that he has done. The work we do is a form of worship. We should do with all of our heart and honor Christ our Lord.