Finding Satisfaction in Your Work
On Monday mornings, before I get dressed for work, you’ll find me wearing a T-shirt that says, “Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Repeat.” The words on my coffee mug express my mood: “I don’t feel very worky today.” (Yes, “worky” is found in several dictionaries, but you can’t use it in Scrabble.)
Once I arrive at work, if someone asks me about my weekend, I’ll say, “It went by too fast.”
I seldom say, “I’m so glad it’s Monday. I get to go to work.” How many of us do that? Show of hands?
Though I love my teaching job, some aspects of it are difficult—like greeting a class of energetic little people at 7:30 in the morning. (If, like me, you’re not a “morning person,” you’ll understand.) The concept of “work” indicates something we have to do, whether or not we feel like doing it.
Obligation can transform even the most delightful occupation into drudgery.
Yet Solomon, who is generally recognized as the author of Ecclesiastes, said we should enjoy our work.
A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God. (Eccl. 2:24 NIV)
Ironically, Solomon makes this statement after saying everything is meaningless.
Do you think you’re working to create something new? Solomon says there’s nothing new under the sun (Eccl. 2:12).
Do you expect to gain recognition? Solomon says in the days to come all will be long forgotten (Eccl. 2:16).
Are you working to get rich? When you die, all the money and stuff you accumulate will go to someone who hasn’t worked for it (Eccl. 2:19).
If you’re pedaling down the road to success, Solomon lets the air out of your tires.
God created us to have meaningful labor (Gen. 2:15), but we’re not living in the Garden of Eden. Our work can be physically, mentally, and emotionally draining.
Job Stress
A variety of problems contribute to job stress. Whether we work inside or outside the home, even those of us who basically like our jobs sometimes find our work burdensome. We’re further weighed down if we get caught up in competition or comparison. If we feel criticized or under-appreciated, we sink even lower.
We may push ourselves to work harder, hoping to gain approval.
How to Find Satisfaction in Our Work
If we overwork ourselves to get a good evaluation, a raise, a promotion, or the admiration of others, we can become discouraged. How can we possibly find satisfaction in our work?
Do we follow the example of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and whistle while we work? Or, like Mary Poppins, do we find the element of fun and take a spoonful of sugar to help the medicine go down?
God’s Word has a better solution: Serve the Lord in our work, then save time to enjoy his blessings.
The apostle Paul advises, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving” (Col. 3:23-24 NIV).
Working to Serve the Lord
What if we invited God into our workplace and viewed our tasks as holy assignments? What if we simply did our best, knowing the Lord sees our effort and values our work?
Our workload becomes lighter when we remember we’re working to please God rather than other people:
- We’re freed from the burden of seeking approval.
- Social interactions, even difficult ones, become occasions to demonstrate the love of Christ.
- Boring, mindless activities give us a chance to pray.
- The grueling parts of our jobs become opportunities to display God’s power.
God’s servants don’t turn into workaholics because God commands us to rest. He wants us to sit down with our family and friends and savor the meal we’ve worked to put on the table, and to give thanks because it’s his gift to us.
Inviting God into our workplace won’t eliminate all our workday woes. But if we work to serve the Lord and save time to enjoy our blessings, we’ll feel a little more “worky” and a lot more satisfied.
Father, help us find satisfaction in our work. Help us remember our jobs are gifts from you. Help us seek to do our best whether or not anyone else appreciates our efforts. Let us rely on your strength to carry us through the workday. Keep us from the lure of riches or recognition, and teach us to enjoy to fruits of our labor. Amen.
Scripture for Reflection
I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. (Eccl. 3:12-13 NIV)
So I saw that there is nothing better for a person than to enjoy their work, because that is their lot. For who can bring them to see what will happen after them? (Eccl. 3:22 NIV)
Reach for More
In the morning, thank God for giving you meaningful labor. Ask him to show you how you can best serve him in your daily tasks. Ask him to give you satisfaction in your work.
Identify areas where you create unnecessary stress by striving to please people.
If necessary, set appropriate boundaries to provide time to enjoy your family, your friends, and the blessings God provides.
spends most days teaching a classroom full of lively five-and six-year-olds. She’s attracted to be fragrance of vanilla, the printed word, and all things blue and white. She delights in spending time with her husband and family, singing praises with her church choir peeps, and traveling. Her heart’s desire is to know God better and learn to trust him more. You can read more of her writing at MargaretKemp.com.
Photograph © Surface, used with permission
