Dignity of Work and Rights to workers
Every morning we get up, we eat, we go to work (or school), then we come home eat got to sleep… then we do it all over again. But instead of this just being a way to gain income to provide the necessities to ourselves and our families, shouldn't we be using this as a way to continue in our active participation within the community and society? The answer to this is yes.
We, as workers, have certain rights; the right to productive work, the right to decent and fair wages, the right to being a part of and starting a union, the right to private property and the right to be a part of the economy.
“Woe to him who treats his workers unjustly.” -Jeremiah 22:13
“All Workers should be paid a just and living wage.” See Matthew 20:1-16
“To deprive an employee of wages is to commit murder.” See Sirach 34:20-22
“Do not withhold wages from your workers, for their livelihood depends on them.” -See Deuteronomy 24:14-15
But we must not overwork so that the blessing of having a job that can provide for us is a burden and therefore is no longer blessing us and our families, but possibly hurting us and our relationships. We also aren’t given these jobs so that we can be greedy and keep all of the profits for ourselves but so that we can share the fruits of our labor with others.
“The Lord blesses our work so that we may share its fruits with others.” - See Deuteronomy 14: 28-29
Another right that we have is that God gave us Sundays. Not just for Golf or Sunday Night football. But to take advantage of the Sabbath day and rest. It is a day for us to care about ourselves and our surroundings, it is a day for us to rest and rejuvenate for another week of work.
“God settles man in the garen of Eden to cultivate and care for it.” -Genesis 2:15
“The Sabbath is for everyone-all are allowed to rest from their work.” See Deuteronomy 5:13-15
The Sabbath was made for us so that we could have time with the Lord, so that we could be with him, so that we wouldn’t work but we can rest in him. The Sabbath was created for rest, a chance to stop from our ever fast paced lives and rejuvenate, to recollect ourselves and put our focus in the Lord’s hands for the week. God didn’t make the Sabbath for our Sunday night football games or for Johnny’s soccer game. He made it so that we can rest in Him, and so that we can participate at Mass with him. This is part of our rights as workers, it is part of our right to actively participate in the community as well.
How is God speaking to you in this post or today's reading? Enter a comment below or click HERE if you are reading from your phone. (Commenting is optional, but always grace-filled.) Thank you for letting us into your life and for being a part of ours!
