By Pr Michael Kintu
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them,” Ephesians 2:10
As we mark Labour Day on May 1, 2025 a day set aside to celebrate the dignity of work and those who perform it, it is fitting to pause and reflect on a deeper question: what is the true purpose of our work? More than a means of survival or societal duty, work, from a biblical standpoint, is a divine calling. Ephesians 2:10 offers a profound truth: we are not only made by God but also made for something, good works ordained from the beginning of time.
Original purpose of work
To understand the value of Labour Day from a faith-based lens, we must revisit the original design of work. In Genesis 1:26, God declares: “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion.” Humanity was not an afterthought but a central piece of God’s creation, fashioned in His image to govern, nurture, and manage the earth.
Genesis 2:15 underscores this intent: “And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.” This was no idle placement. Adam was given a job, a purposeful task that involved stewardship, organisation, and creativity. In this, we find the earliest expression of labour: not a curse, but a calling.
Work before, after the fall
Many perceive work as a result of humanity’s fall, a kind of punishment handed down in Eden. But scripture teaches otherwise. Work existed before the fall. It was part of humanity’s original design. Though sin introduced toil and hardship, it did not revoke the purpose of work.
In Christ, that purpose is redeemed. Ephesians 2:10 reminds us we are re-created in Christ Jesus for good works. Just as Jesus restored our relationship with God, He also reinstated our assignment to carry out meaningful, kingdom-driven labour on the earth.
What does this mean for Labour Day?
Labour Day is not just a celebration of industry or a day off from our jobs, it is an opportunity to reflect on our divine purpose. It is a call to rediscover the sacredness of work. Whether we are teachers, builders, engineers, farmers, creatives or caregivers, our work is an extension of God’s original command: to be fruitful, to multiply, and to steward the earth well.
Psalm 139:14 proclaims: “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” Each of us has been handcrafted by God, equipped with specific skills and talents. Psalm 139:16 goes further: “In thy book all my members were written… when as yet there was none of them.” This means that before we ever took our first breath, God had a purpose for our lives, and our work is an essential part of that purpose.
Purpose unlocks productivity
As Dr Myles Munroe famously said: “The two most important days in life are the day you are born and the day you discover why.” Without a sense of purpose, work becomes a burden. With purpose, work becomes a blessing.
Paul’s exhortation in Ephesians 5:14–17 is timely on Labour Day: “Awake thou that sleepest. See then that ye walk circumspectly… redeeming the time, because the days are evil… understanding what the will of the Lord is.”
This is a call to live intentionally, not drifting through life, but investing our time and energy wisely. Labour Day serves as a reminder that time is precious, and our best years should be spent discovering and fulfilling our God-given assignments.
Moses echoes this in Psalm 90:12: “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” Later in verse 16, he prays: “Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children.” May this Labour Day be a moment where that same prayer becomes ours: “Lord, reveal to me the work You’ve called me to do.”
The curse has been broken
Many still approach work with dread, associating it with hardship. But Galatians 3:13–14 offers hope:
“Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law… that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles.”
The curse that brought sweat and sorrow to labour has been broken. In Christ, we inherit the blessing of Abraham, meaning our work can once again be a source of fruitfulness, not frustration.
This shift is critical. When we understand that our work is blessed, our approach changes. We begin to see opportunities, not obstacles. We strive not for mere survival but for excellence, creativity, and impact.
Skill, diligence, excellence
Scripture does not glorify laziness. On the contrary, it honours diligence and skill. Proverbs 22:29 says: “Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings.” Ecclesiastes 10:10 reminds us that blunt tools require more effort, but wisdom helps us sharpen our edge.
In practical terms, this means we must develop our craft. We must sharpen our skills. As we do, our work becomes more effective, more rewarding, and more aligned with God’s purposes.
Proverbs 14:23 adds: “In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.” Hard work pays off—not just financially, but in influence, legacy, and impact.
Ripple effect on nations
The Bible teaches that work begins with the individual but affects the whole community, and eventually, nations. When people take their work seriously, societies flourish. History shows this in the transformation of nations across Europe, the rise of the Asian economies, and even the biblical example of Egypt under Joseph’s leadership.
Joseph was not just a dreamer, he was a diligent worker. When famine loomed, he used divine wisdom and practical management to save a nation. Proverbs 12:27 describes such diligence: “The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious.”
Joseph’s work laid the foundation for economic policies that preserved Egypt and made it a global power. In this, we see how faithful stewardship of our assignments can ripple outward, changing not just our lives, but entire generations.
Building our nation
Labour Day is also a time to consider our national responsibilities. Roads without potholes, clean streets, efficient systems, these are not miracles; they are the fruit of individuals taking pride in their work. Behind every working streetlight, functioning hospital, and thriving business, there is someone working with diligence and purpose.
Romans 12:2 calls us to transformation: “Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.” As a nation, our mindset towards work must evolve. We must honour labour, not just through public holidays, but through personal excellence.
The story of Nehemiah is instructive. He did not just mourn the ruins of Jerusalem, he rallied the people to rebuild. Nehemiah 2:17 says:“Come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach.” We too must rise and build, brick by brick, skill by skill, act by act.
God’s promise over our work
Deuteronomy 28:12 contains a promise that should define our understanding of work:
“The Lord shall open unto thee his good treasure… and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.”
This is God’s design: that we would be productive, prosperous, and influential, not through shortcuts or schemes, but through faithful work.
This Labour Day, let us do more than rest. Let us reflect. Let us ask ourselves not only what we are doing, but why we are doing it. Let us reframe work not as a chore, but as a calling.
Work is not punishment, it is purpose. And when we work in alignment with God’s plan, our hands become instruments of transformation. We bless others. We shape culture. We build legacies.
So as we celebrate Labour Day, may we be reminded: we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works. Let us work, not just hard, but on purpose.
