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

“It’s bittersweet — it gives us a chance to save our family’s finances, but you’re seeing the labor of love destroyed.”

From Los Angeles Times

And so it is in “Carson the Magnificent,” which is as much the definitive testimony of a Carson fan as it is a definitive biography, a decades-long labor of love.

From Los Angeles Times

“It was their little labor of love — mostly my labor and their love.”

From Los Angeles Times

“It’s a mission,” he said, “and a labor of love.”

From Los Angeles Times

What started as a labor of love for Reynolds has spawned two sequels.

From Los Angeles Times