How did you and your family celebrate Labor Day? Travel? A cookout? Fireworks? A deep dive into the history of the movement that led to shorter hours, safer conditions, and greater protections for workers?
Our guess is maybe not that last one. No shame ... we didn’t either.
Labor Day is the perfect time to reflect on why and how we should work. It also invites us to remember that work plays a role in our faith—not the other way around.
Tim Keller’s Every Good Endeavor describes work as part of God’s design and encourages a healthy understanding of vocation: doing excellent work, using God-given gifts, serving neighbors, contributing to human flourishing, and infusing Christian wisdom into business practices.
As we turn from summer to the routine of fall, viewing the core Labor Day principles—improved labor conditions and celebrating the worker—through the lens of faith may help us better cultivate, steward, and reflect God’s character:
In the spirit of Ecclesiastes 3, which defines God’s gift to man as both work and the enjoyment of its fruits, intentionally model and encourage limits around being “always on.”
Protect your most dedicated people. Leaning on a reliable few, not prioritizing new hires, or delaying the rollout of a solution may quietly burn out your best and brightest.
Celebrate contributions
Give credit where it is due; openly recognize good work—especially from those typically behind the scenes.
Offer meaningful rewards by considering the most impactful options first. Is there room to increase pay? Can the PTO structure be improved?
See and uplift the whole person by acknowledging not just work, but also personal and family transitions, milestones, and accomplishments.
This week and going forward, may we remember that work is a gift, not our identity. With healthy boundaries and intentional appreciation, we can cultivate workplaces that steward our talents well, honor people, and reflect God’s character.
NONPROFIT FEATURE:
LifeWise Academy
Last month, we shared about basic needs that some students may face as the school year starts. Today, we are introducing a nonprofit that helps meet the spiritual needs of students in public schools across the country: LifeWise Academy.
Founded in 2018 by CEO Joel Penton, LifeWise Academy is designed as a “plug and play” process to legally introduce Bible-based character classes into students’ public school schedules.
Rooted in the philosophy that programs be gospel-centered, excellent, and community-driven, these classes are “designed to develop traits like courage, kindness, and respect that are anchored in the timeless truths of the Bible.”
Administrators and teachers have found that the benefits extend beyond participants’ biblical education: studies have shown improvements in attendance, behavior, and academics.
What started as two pilot programs in Ohio has grown into a coast-to-coast network reaching more than 1,000 schools and more than 100,000 students. See more about where LifeWise Academy is serving, what is happening on the ground, and the impact they are seeing in schools across the country:
This summer, LinkedIn added a reporting feature: the “seems like AI slop” button.
Chief Product Officer Hari Srinivasan posted on the networking platform about this and other changes being implemented. The goal? Filter out bots, scripts, and automations so that users “connect with real people and share their real perspectives, ideas, and expertise.”
LinkedIn and others are becoming increasingly sensitive to artificial intelligence (AI) input, developing tools to defend and promote organic, human-driven engagement.
We're curious: How are you approaching AI adoption for your business? We would love to hear from business owners like you as we gather background for an upcoming edition of The Bottom Line & Beyond.
Dolly Parton, whose storied, decorated years will live on in the collective memory for generations to come, leaves more to her legacy than successes, fame, or fortune.
Of the many tributes shared since her passing, nearly all remember her for her kindness and the many ways she gave back, supporting children, education, and communities in need.
Parton’s philanthropy reflected her unconventional faith, her humble roots, and her belief in uplifting those around her. Through the Dollywood Foundation and personal donations, she supported literacy and education, disaster relief, healthcare and medical research, and many more causes.
Imagine living to the fullness she did and having this to say at 80: “I still have so many things I want to achieve, so I’m gonna keep on working as long as I can to see everything come to life.”
This does not constitute nor does The Signatry provide legal, tax, financial or other professional advice. You should consult professional advisors concerning the legal, tax, or financial consequences of your charitable activities.
