Freedom to Work

“What is there illustrious that is not attended by labor?” Thus spoke an ancient philosopher. History does not record, nor does scripture, that the Lord God excepted anyone when He said: “Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work.” In short, honest work is the rightful lot of all men, and there is little satisfaction to those who do not earnestly labor according to their talents and their physical and mental abilities. And since to labor is a God-given command, it may well follow that no man is beholden to another for the right to labor. This is one of the freedoms that must not be overlooked⎯freedom to work. But men differ as to the kind of work they want to do and are able to do. Some can perform service that would be impossible to others. Some can write the play, others can speak the lines; some can draw the blueprints, others can build the walls; some can create the design, and others can build the building. If all men wanted to do the works of a Michelangelo, the world would be filled with exquisite art, and have no bread. If all wanted to build buildings, the world would be filled with empty structures, and have no books to read, no music to hear, and no sustenance to life. And so, every man according to his wants and needs, his gifts and talents, his aspirations, and his physical and mental equipment, and according to the needs of his own generation⎯and let no one stay his hand. Any conscientious parent would readily recognize as wasteful any attempt in the schoolroom to hold back his able and industrious child to the pace of the dull and indifferent student. Likewise, in the daily pursuits of mankind, any influence which tends toward the deliberate slowing-down of the abilities of men may readily be recognized as wasteful. Unless a man is permitted and encouraged to do his best, he will shrivel within himself, and the world will lose with him. One may well imagine what would be the result on the battlefield if a soldier’s performance were limited to what might be expected from the more fearful, the less courageous, the least efficient! Any influence which deters any man from the constructive use of his full powers is damaging to human character and a hindrance to human progress, for the world is enriched by the sum total constructive labors of all, whether it be labor of the mind or of the hand, or of both. “To rejoice in his labor; this is the gift of God.” For it is written: “Life gives nothing to man without labor.