If It Ain’t Broke, Don’t Fix It
Labor Day
Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the LORD guards the city, The watchman keeps awake in vain. Psalm 127:1 (NASB)
Labor Day started as the brain child of either Matthew or Peter McGuire. The first holiday was celebrated on September 5, 1882 in New York City. It gained momentum over the next ten years and on June 28, 1894 Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September a legal holiday.
Peter McGuire was the general secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners. He also cofounded the American Federation of Labor and he stated “who from rude nature have delved and carved all the grandeur we behold.” However, Matthew McGuire was serving as secretary of the Central Labor Union in New York when he proposed the holiday in 1882. The records seem to support Matthew. Either way, it is a holiday created by the labor movement dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. (Information provided by the US Department of Labor)
Labor Day, like many other holidays, is a time for cookouts and recreation. For some pursuing recreation takes them to the golf course, ocean, amusement parks, and cookouts. For some other, they recreate at the shopping malls. I like working in my shop and tinkering with different projects. I use it as a time for doing preventative maintenance on things around the house. Hence the old adage, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. So many of us wait until something breaks before we are forced to fix. This usually happens at the worst possible time and cost far more than it would have otherwise. A little preventative maintenance would have solved the problem.
The same is true in our spiritual lives. When is the last time you did maintenance on your walk with Christ? The C. S. Lewis Institute posted an Annual Spiritual Check Up that give ten items to consider:
- How is my relationship with God?
- Am I actively serving God?
- Am I growing in my desire and actions to give sacrificially to God’s work in the church, in caring for the poor, and in other ministries?
- Am I living in humility before God, my family, friends and co-workers?
- Is there evidence of grace growing in my life?
- Am I loving my family as I should?
- Am I forgiving others?
- Am I growing in fellowship with other believers?
- Have I personally witnessed to anyone in the past year?
- Am I focusing part of my time and money to help the poor and disadvantaged?
Today’s Prayer
Dear Lord,
My relationship with You means more to me than anything! As I reflect on these simple questions, I realize how much of the world has crept into a position of influence. Help me to do preventative maintenance on my spiritual life and may it begin with spending time each day with You. In Jesus Name, I pray, Amen.