09/04/2026
"Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain." 1 Corinthians 1:58
As school is back in session, so are stories from school around our dinner table. We recently heard about a teacher who, in the first couple of days of school, decided to get to know the students and they each other with a game. Maybe you know it. It is called, "Would You Rather?" The concept of the game is that you are given two options and have to choose one and explain why. Often both options are imperfect, and you might not want either, but you must choose one in this exchange. The example that kept us in conversation was this: "Would you rather work at a job you love without compensation or work at a job with more money than you could possibly need that you hate?" It was interesting to our table that in class, more chose money over fulfillment.
On this Labor Day weekend, what an excellent question. In a world in which we have people who make more money than they could possibly know what to do with and those who do not make enough money to feed and house themselves and their people, this is not necessarily hypothetical. This is true in our world, in which "As of 2026, there are a record 3,428 billionaires worldwide. Their combined net worth is approximately $20.1 trillion, marking the highest total ever recorded by Forbes. This represents an increase of 400 billionaires from the previous year, indicating that more than one new billionaire was added each day." (Forbes) Conversely, "As of recent estimates, approximately 847 million people live in extreme poverty, defined as surviving on less than $1.90 per day. This figure reflects a significant decline from around 2.3 billion in 1990, largely due to economic growth in regions like East Asia and South Asia. Additionally, about 23% of the global population lives below the $3.65 poverty line, and nearly half live below $6.85 per day" (World Bank).
This is also true in our community. Almost every Sunday, we hear prayers for employment. There are those seeking it, those who are looking for more sustainable employment or occupation and vocation that offers fulfillment and purpose. Throughout the week, each day we see people who are living with the effects of unemployment, underemployment, and challenges with employment. Our PDF (Pastor's Discretionary Fund) is one way we seek to support people and make a difference in our community in times of challenge. We also work with other social service agencies, faith institutions, and our government to provide services and resources for people. We advocate for sustainable changes and increased resources for those most in need, from food to housing to recent opportunities to reconsider utility shutoff notices as our public utility commissions open for comment.
On this Labor Day weekend, I give thanks to God for all of those who have meaningful work that fulfills them and serves others. I pray for those who are struggling to get employment and those who are underemployed. I pray for those who are overworked. I also pray for those here and around the world whose work does not make ends meet and leaves them struggling to feed, house, and care for themselves and their families. May we be those who care for one another and advocate for justice and equity for each of us.
In God's Love,
Pastor Monica
Lead Pastor, Stroudsburg UMC
