Something I've been really contemplating is the idea of loving your job. Should we be able to love our job? Should we quit our job if we don't love it? Do we deserve or have "the right" to love our job? Did my grandfather find fulfillment in his job? Why do people work? I could go on forever. I've also been learning through a very wise friend, that our opinions shouldn't be based on our thoughts, but on God's word. That's the truth. First, I will tell you my opinion based on my opinion. My grandfather did not love and feel passionate about working for Armco steel. He had love and passion for his family, listening to good music, fishing and drinking a nice cold brewskie. He did not find fulfillment in his job, he found it in what he did outside his job. I would love to say that my grandfather spent his entire life finding his fulfillment in Christ, but that did not happen until his last days, but I do think that he had most of it right. He worked to provide for his family and enjoy life outside of work. That's not to say he HATED his job, but it was a j-o-b and they called it that for a reason. I imagine he was pretty positive at work too, not mumbling and complaining with every step, which is really amazing since he didn't have salvation at the time. Makes me ashamed of myself, for calling myself a Christian, yet moaning on an almost a day to day basis about my job. I can only imagine what my grandfather would have been like if he had met Jesus young, thank God I did. So what did I learn from my grandfather's example? That we work to meet our financial obligations and hopefully find a job that allows us to enjoy life outside of work...
My mind has changed a lot about this subject over the past few years, life situations and advice from others has given me the opportunity to really think about what I believe in this area. I read the book, "Just Do Something," by Kevin DeYoung.
It gave me a perspective I had never had before!!
Now, thoughts from the most important place (and my interpretation for food for thought!)
Do we stop working if we are unhappy?
"But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." 1 Timothy 5:8
I believe this means that you work, even if you hate your job, if not working means you cannot provide for your family.
Do we deserve to have a job we love? (do we deserve anything at all?)
People think they have the "right" to love their job, that they "deserve" to do, for a career, what they feel passionate about. I believe that scripture says we deserve nothing but death and hell, and ANYTHING outside of that is a blessing, even if its a job we hate.
Should we find our fulfillment in our job?
I think God loves us, but that doesn't mean our job will give us fulfillment and joy. I definitely think some people are blessed by finding fulfillment in their job, but only living through Christ can we find true joy and fulfillment.
"Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls." 1 Peter 1 : 8 & 9
If we are focused on that, then we won't be miserable. Now of course, I AM TOTALLY PREACHING TO MYSELF! I'm only now becoming a more positive, optimistic person trying to find contentment in loving Jesus and feeling blessed by any additional good things in my life, so please don't take me the wrong way! I think the Bible is clear that we will have a difficult road as Christians.
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that address you as sons: 'My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those He loves, and He punishes everyone He accepts as a son.' Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in His holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. Make level paths for your feet, so that that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed." Hebrews 12: 1-12
God commands us to work in His word.
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism."
Colossians 3 : 23-24
I also believe that God does bless His people. He prospers us and promises us many things.
I think this sums up a few points. We need to have the correct motives and the Lord will take care of the rest.
"To humans belong the plans of the heart, but from the LORD comes the proper answer of the tongue. All a person's ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord. Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans. The Lord works out everything to its proper end, even the wicked for a day of disaster." Proverbs 16:1-4
I need to remember all the ways that He blesses me and that some of these blesses I may not look at as such and all are things I do not deserve and did not earn!
"From the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another." John 1:16
I, by no means, think that everyone should take a stinky job that they can't stand and "suck it up." I believe people can love and feel passionate about their job and be totally blessed (I sure hope my pastor feels passionate about his job...pretty sure he does. You will agree if you have ever heard him preach...) I am just trying to point out that the way society, as a whole, approaches work, may be a little off base. I also think that absolutely loving your job and feeling passionate about it is the exception, not the rule.
The two important conclusions I have come to in all of this, when coming up with an opinion, base it on the word of God and no matter what you do, "work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord..."
