Working for a Bigger Purpose

Labor Day. A time to honor the "American labor movement and contributions that workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of their country." ~Wikipedia

Labor:  physical or mental work, especially of a hard or fatiguing kind; toil. ~Dictionary.com

 I believe true happiness and contentment can only come when we are able to love and enjoy what we are laboring for. For me, that comes from remembering why I was placed here. I believe I was put here to be a caretaker of God's creation. I think we have removed ourselves so far away from that in society these days. We're too busy keeping up with our schedules, so we'll let the tree-hugging, charitable types take care of creation. Or nature. Or the woods and forests. The animals and people. That ought to be enough, right?  Throw some extra change in the plastic jar at the convenience store. Set up a monthly debit to my favorite save the trees and animals charity. 

Personally, I believe the purpose of my labor is so much bigger than that. And it's when I am able to focus on that bigger purpose that I am most content. At peace. When I start worrying about keeping a lot of people happy or what others think, that's when I lose my focus of that bigger purpose. I am not convinced it's my job to save the world, change the world, feed the world. I am convinced that it is my job to work hard, be productive, and be a caretaker where I am. When I am focused, then I am content and feel the effects of a job well done.  

Ecclesiastes 5:18-20  Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him - for this is his lot. Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work - this is a gift of God. He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart. -NIV