labor of love

noun

1. work done for the sake of one's own enjoyment or of benefit to others rather than for material rewards.

   He coached amateur baseball teams as a labor of love.

Word History and Origins

Origin of labor of love¹

First recorded in 1665–75

Idioms and Phrases

Work done for one's satisfaction rather than monetary reward. For example, The research took three years but it was a labor of love. This expression appears twice in the New Testament (Hebrews 6:10, Thessalonians 1:3), referring to those who do God's work as a labor of love. [c. 1600]

Example Sentences

For over three years, Hollinquest and Martinez worked on the Radical Monarchs “as a labor of love” all the while balancing full-time jobs.

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“It’s a labor of love. We become our own safety net, and we make it work because we need it.”

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Morello's post said putting the event together was "over a year of hard work but heavy metal was the music that made me love music and it was a labor of love."

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Taking place at Ojai’s Chaparral Auditorium over two weekends in May, the project is a labor of love for everyone involved, most of whom are donating their time and talents.

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Making brisket is a labor of love but the results make it all worth it.

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