Sometimes we hear people talk about the importance of finding a job you love. This may be a bit of an overstatement, but it's important to do things that don't ruin your joy, your sense of fulfillment and meaning. You may be doing physical labor all day, which is not very happy, but when you return home tired, you know that you have done useful work. And this very understanding can be a reward.
Over the years I have worked in different jobs and different types of businesses. I decided to get rid of the work that was killing my joy as quickly as possible. The work that I find most enjoyable is the work that allows me to make a difference in the lives of others.
I spend most of my time today restoring old photos. This is very rewarding, especially since I not only enjoy working with photographs, but also hearing the stories of the people captured in them. I also do a lot of portrait photography. I love people and find pleasure in helping them look their best.
I also have a seasonal job as a tax professional helping my clients prepare their tax returns. It is very helpful to spend time with them, get to know them and help with your annual tax filing; explaining a process that can be very confusing. For many years, I ran a local coffee shop that not only allowed people to enjoy their favorite beverages, caffeinated or decaffeinated, but also created an environment where they could relax and socialize with others, which often changed the course of their lives.
From time to time I got carried away with work that might seem good at first. But it soon turned out that this was the wrong decision. I could stay and feel miserable or decide to leave at the first opportunity. Most often I chose the second option.
The choice to fulfill an obligation or get out of this situation as soon as possible can be difficult. Sometimes we are able to “smile and bear it” and bear it for a short time. However, in other cases, it is better to acknowledge a desperate situation and leave as amicably as possible if we find that circumstances are robbing us of joy, peace, love or a sense of humor. I have often found biblical principles helpful in making such difficult decisions.
God created work for our benefit. Some people consider work a “necessary evil,” but from the beginning God intended work to provide for our daily needs and to give us a sense of meaning and satisfaction. “And God blessed them, and God said to them, Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air... And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb yielding seed that is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree that has fruit yielding seed; it shall be for you to eat” (Genesis 1:28-29).
Human rebellion made the work difficult. The disobedience of Adam and Eve, who ate from the forbidden tree, had consequences, including making the work more difficult and more difficult. “...cursed is the earth for your sake; “In sorrow you will eat of it all the days of your life... by the sweat of your brow you will eat bread” (Genesis 3:17, 19).
Work is fulfilling if it is done for the right reasons. Work can be joyful and rewarding if we recognize who we are ultimately working for and that God has given us certain abilities and gifts. “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as for the Lord and not for men” (Colossians 3:23).
© 2023. Jim Mathis is a writer, photographer, and small business owner based in Overland Park, Kansas. His latest book is “The Camel and the Needle. A Christian view of wealth and money." He was previously a café manager and executive director of CBMC in Kansas City.
Questions for reflection/discussion
NOTE. If you have a Bible and want to read more, consider the following passages: Proverbs 18:9; Ecclesiastes 2:24–26, 3:22 5:18–19; Ephesians 6:5-7; Colossians 3:17, 24
Difficult task
If you find that work is “stealing your joy,” who can you go to and discuss it with, seeking wisdom on how best to use your God-given abilities and gifts to effectively serve Him and others? If you find pleasure in your work, pray about how you could support a specific person who does not currently have that experience.