New Church Life September/October 2016 | Page 9

 So the Lord is working through us not only for our own spiritual growth and regeneration but for the positive impact and influence we can have on others by living the life of regeneration. As we regenerate – gradually, individually and together – we also help to make this a better world for others. As we choose in freedom to regenerate, His will is being done through us as if of ourselves. His kingdom comes, His will is done, in heaven and on earth, as we allow Him to work through each of us. (BMH) labor day One of the things that sets humans apart from other creatures is that we have to work. And there is a lot involved in the idea of “work.” Animals certainly keep busy looking for food, but each one’s occupation is determined simply by the species it belongs to, whereas humans have a wide range of possible uses they might take up. The work of animals begins and ends with obtaining what they need to survive, but the work people do involves much more than mere survival. For animals the question of whether they find their work satisfying is a non-issue. With people, though, the degree of satisfaction they find in their occupation varies greatly. Those who enjoy their job and perceive that their work is of benefit to others are very fortunate. In heaven, the angels love to be of use to others, and therefore find great satisfaction and joy in their work. In hell, the evil spirits work only because they have to, and their toil is just more misery for them. In this world, things are not so clear cut, but the more we are affected by the heavenly love of the neighbor the more likely we are to find enjoyment in our work. The angels, though, receive the basic necessities of life, food and shelter gratis. The work they do is a pure expression of their love of being useful, and the happiness they find in it is based entirely upon that. In this world, even those who love being useful and whose occupations perfectly match their abilities and interests will find jobs to be unsatisfying that don’t pay enough to provide for the basic necessities of life. The New Church Doctrine of Use sheds a lot of light on the value and importance of labor, and reveals its spiritual dimension. The Writings explain that our job, even though we are paid for it, can be a work of charity. “Everyone who looks to the Lord and shuns evils as sin, if he sincerely, justly and faithfully does the work of his office and employment, becomes a form of charity.” (Doctrine of Charity 158) In fact, a job done in such a spirit is an act of worship. We are told that “glorifying God means to bring forth the fruits of love, that is, to carry out the 415