Do you ever feel like your skills are overlooked? Have you ever felt under-appreciated at your job? Or have you ever been guilty of placing blame for a project gone awry on your boss or your fellow employee? No doubt each of us has experienced something like this in the past.

Once again, we are approaching the end of summer. The days of ball games and cookouts are running out. Summer vacation is about over and the kids are gearing up for school, some have already started. We all have one last opportunity for a family celebration. Labor Day. The day that has become the traditional end of summer. The day that marks the beginning of football season. The day that signifies to America that we all need to get back on our ‘normal’ schedule. Is that what Labor Day has become? Have we forgotten what Labor Day actually represents? Isn’t this the day to lay aside our differences on the job and champion the laborers of this country? Isn’t this the day to give honor and tribute to every American worker?

The first Labor Day parade was held in New York City on September 5, 1882. 20,000 workers marched in a parade up Broadway carrying banners that read:

“LABOR CREATES ALL WEALTH.” “EIGHT HOURS FOR WORK, EIGHT HOURS FOR REST, EIGHT HOURS FOR RECREATION!”

This was the desired goal for all American workers. After the parade was over, picnics were held all over the city. Celebrants ate Irish stew, homemade bread and apple pie. When evening came, fireworks were set off. And over the next few years, the idea spread from coast to coast.

All states began to celebrate Labor Day in honor of the American Worker. In the year 1894, Congress voted it a federal holiday –a day set aside to celebrate the value and dignity of work. Today, we celebrate Labor Day with a bit less fanfare. Some cities have parades and community picnics. But most Americans look forward to Labor Day, mostly because it marks the ending of the summer season, and because it is the last three-day weekend for a while. These reasons are all great reasons to celebrate, but let’s not forget to celebrate the ‘Labor’ that has been put forth in our country and in our churches this year. The Bible instructs us to give honor to whom honor is due.

Rom 13:7

7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.

On this Labor Day Sunday, take time out in your church to give honor to the American Worker who has built this country into the greatest country in the world! Then take time out to honor all of the laborers who are working together with you in the Kingdom of God. Labor Day Sunday would be a great Sunday to celebrate and champion your workers in the Kingdom. Let this be a day that you build them up and recognize that they are making a difference in your community and in the Kingdom of God!

Someone has written that there are four kinds of bones in the world. The WISH BONES who spend their time wishing someone else would do the work; The JAW BONES who do all the talking, but very little else; The KNUCKLE BONES who knock everything that anyone else is trying to do; The BACK BONES who shoulder the load and do the work.

Your church has some people that are the backbones. They are the glue that is holding everything together. They are the foundation that is supporting all of the other members. They ought to receive some special recognition on Labor Day Sunday.

There are others who are not shouldering so much work, but they are doing the necessary things that have to get done. Cleaning the church, taking out the trash, pulling weeds. There is not much glory in these tasks, in fact,` nobody really knows who is doing it or even if they are doing it, they only notice when it is not done. These are your servants. Let them know the high honor of serving in the Kingdom. The simple fact that the doors are open and we have church every Sunday lets me know that there are a lot of people doing what God has called them to do. Take time out to recognize those people in your church this weekend. Give them some special attention. The difference they make cannot be measured in dollars. They may feel over-worked and under-appreciated. Let them know that what they are doing, no matter how small, is making a huge difference.

The USS Astoria was the first U.S. cruiser to engage the Japanese during the Battle of Savo Island. This battle was fought during the nights of August 8th and 9th, 1942. Although she scored two hits on the Imperial flagship Chokai, the Astoria was hit and badly damaged. She sank shortly after noon on August 9th. About 0200 hours, a young Signalman, Elgin Staples, was swept overboard by the blast when the Astoria’s number one eight-inch gun turret exploded. Wounded in both legs by shrapnel and in semi-shock, he was kept afloat by a narrow life belt that he managed to activate with a simple trigger mechanism. At around 0600 hours, Staples was rescued by a passing destroyer and returned to the Astoria, whose captain was attempting to save the cruiser by beaching her. The effort failed, and Staples, still wearing the same life belt, found himself back in the water. It was lunchtime. Picked up again, this time by the USS President Jackson, he was one of 500 survivors of the battle who were evacuated to Noumea. On board the transport, Staples, for the first time, closely examined the life belt that had served him so well. It had been manufactured by Firestone Tire and Rubber Company of Akron, Ohio, and bore a registration number.

When he finally arrived home, Staples told his story to his mother who happened to work for Firestone. He asked her about the purpose of the number on the belt. She replied that the company insisted on personal responsibility for the war effort, and that the number was unique and assigned to only one inspector. Staples remembered everything about the lifebelt that had saved his life twice in one day. He had even memorized the number, his mother asked him what the number was, as he quoted the number to her she began to break down and cry. It was his mother’s personal inspection code and had been printed on every item she was responsible for approving.

Little did she know that the one of the thousands of lifebelts she inspected would one day save the life of her son two times in one day. The work that each person does in the Kingdom of God may go unnoticed much of the time, but what they are doing may well save the souls of your own children and their children. Every person who labors in the Kingdom is so important. The work they are doing is so vitally crucial to the saving of our generation. Only God knows the full impact that each of us has on those around us. To be a laborer in God’s Kingdom is the highest calling and the highest honor one could ever have. We know that our reward is not on this earth, we are laying up treasures in heaven. God is keeping a record, your ultimate “Labor Day” will be when you get to that heavenly city. God is preparing a place just for you to honor all that you have done in His Kingdom. Until that day comes, it still is really nice to know that people see and recognize the effort and sacrifice of the laborers in your church. Make this Labor Day Sunday your best ever by making Champions of every person who has labored in your local assembly. You won’t believe the difference that it will make in their life and in your church!

The Need for Recognition and Appreciation

“One of the deepest cravings of human nature is the need to be appreciated.” William James, American Philosopher.

At the end of the day, all people really want is to know that what they are doing is making a difference. They want to know that their lives matter. On their funeral day, they want the minister to be able to say that their life was of value and importance to somebody. It is so easy to take people for granted. In the hustle and bustle of life, we easily forget to let people know that we appreciate them. A little bit of appreciation can go a long way toward making people feel like they are a part of your team, and it will also give them added incentive to do their best work. This is especially important for people who volunteer. The majority, if not all, of the workers in your church are volunteers. While an employee receives a ‘wage’ as their reward, a volunteer typically receives a cup of coffee, or a meal, at best. Most Christians understand that their reward is in heaven. They will never tell you they need to be appreciated, but they do, everybody does, it is part of who we are.

What Appreciation Can Accomplish:

1.      It stimulates interest and enthusiasm.

2.      It encourages cooperation and efficiency.

3.      It promotes happiness and good fellowship.

4.      It increases self-confidence and loyalty.

5.      It stimulates a feeling of importance and self-respect.

6.      It is a remedy for some of the ills and discouragements of life.

7.      It brings out the very best in people.

8.      It strengthens unity.

9.      It draws us closer to God.

Idea’s for Appreciation in your Church:

1.      Special Sundays to appreciate special people:

a.      Labor Day Sunday to appreciate all of your volunteers.

b.      Father’s Day to appreciate Fathers. Etc.

2.      Make up your own Appreciation Days to honor different ministries in your church:

a.      Sunday School Appreciation Day.

b.      Pastors Appreciation Day.

c.       Saints Appreciation Day. Etc.

3.      Give gifts:

a.      Flowers to mothers.

b.      Candy to fathers.

c.      Gift Certificates that relate to certain people.

4.      Send cards and letters that express how you really feel.

5.      Take people to dinner. Personal time with them is very important.

6.      Share stories of their good deeds with the church.

7.      Say “Thank You!”

Tip: Remember, appreciation is much more effective when it is thought out and personalized for individuals. For example, give your leadership team Bibles with their name embossed on the cover.

Warning: Don’t make the mistake of limiting appreciation to one special time a year, give it on an ongoing basis.