Sayings

Today we look at the phrase, “Labour of love” and discover that this comes from the King James Version of Hebrews 6:10 “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.” The dictionary defines a labour of love as a piece of hard work that is done because we enjoy it and not because we will receive money or praise for it, or because we need to do it.

The hallmark of true faith is active, Christian love which is carried out in the power of the Holy Spirit. And the faith of these dear ‘Hebrew’ saints  was manifested in the ongoing work they performed to the glory of God, together with their selfless labour of Christian love, in ministering to their sisters and brothers in Christ.

The movie Unbreakable stars Bruce Willis as a man who discovers he is a superhero. In one scene he is lifting weights. His son keeps adding weight to the bar without the man knowing. Eventually the man asks his son how much weight is on the bar and the son answers, “Everything.” The moral being the strength the main character had was far greater than he realised. He learned how strong he was the more weight was placed on him and the more he served others.

To be great we must learn to serve others. Serving others is being helpful to our co-workers, peers, and of course our family. We can serve by feeding the hungry or doing a clothing drive. Meekness helps us to put our own agenda aside and help others. It was William Booth who said, “Faith and works should travel side by side, step answering to step, like the legs of men walking. First faith, and then works; and then faith again, and then works again – until they can scarcely distinguish which is the one and which is the other.” Is that what it means to work a labour of Love.

Lord, may I be encouraged to love in the way of Jesus. May I have eyes to see the needs of those around me. I know I can't do everything, but may I be sensitive to the guidance of your Spirit. Show me, Lord, how I can express love in labour. Amen