I have observed that there is an underlying narcissism in much of today’s workforce. A certain degree of vanity and self-absorption has corrupted our employment view. We go to work, not to contribute, but to find our own self-importance and worth. We punch in, only to wonder why the focus isn’t on us.
High Calling Blogger Every Square Inch has a great post on those jobs that are less than personally satisfying, and how God’s hand may very well be part of that.
Increasingly, the expectations of the workplace have been elevated.
Many people think that work is meant to cater to personal lifestyles with ample free time, invigorating creative stimulation, and opportunity for self-expression.
Many dot.coms feed this trend with play days, catered meals, and scheduled Frisbee breaks.
And then there’s the general desire to not “work for the man,” avoiding corporate culture in lieu of non-profits or small start-ups.
But the economic realities mean that these happy workplaces are increasingly rare. The drive for profits and bettering the bottom line are insatiable, taking many well-meaning Christ following employees into worlds they never thought they would be.
In “Why God May Will an Unsatisfying Job,” Every Square Inch concludes that this kind of work may produce one of three things:
- It can lead us to center our joy in Christ instead of work
- It can sanctify us, teaching us character
- It can remind us that this world is no our home, that indeed, we have another kingdom that we can anticipate.
“God will redeem us and bring us to a place of rich, fulfilling labor. We can cast our eyes heavenward and trust that His work in the past and currently will bring this to pass. We can be truly optimistic and hopeful when we consider the future.”
Read the entire post here, and don’t forget to leave a comment.
Recommended by David Rupert of Red Letter Believers
Photo by Life magazine, used with permission
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Great post, David. For too many of us today, work itself has become our mission, instead of our mission being accomplished (at least partially) through work. When work itself is the point, we can justify all kinds of actions and behaviors. God created man to work, but he also said not to have any other idols before Him.
I needed this today.
And I also wanted to add another comment to the post.
We have to remember that’s why they call it “work” and not “play.”!!!
I am not sure God would ever will us to spend a long-term situation in an unsatisfying job. But for other reasons: transtion, growing, using a bad situation to teach us something, yes, I can see God doing that. While, as Glynn says, it is true that our jobs are ultimately to serve others rather than ourselves, I don’t see why anyone would not want to grow and develop opportunities for themselves where they can serve God in the fullness of the gifts and talents that God has give them, and perhaps in the process, be more satisfied.
Bradley
Often, we associate satisfaction with be able to get paid for our passion.
The two aren’t always synonymous.
Sometimes, to pay the bills, we have to have work that stinks. It’s painful. It’s no fun.
It’s a beautiful thing when the two can converge — our passions and our employment, but, to be honest, this is a rare thing
I think I have a very different take on work and the meaning of work in our lives. I believe that we’re meant to find work that is satisfying and fulfilling, and that we’re led to find those opportunities in our lives. Our life’s work should be something that matches our passions and our interests. Life should be a joyful expression.
If we find ourselves in unsatisfying work, I agree with the points that Bradley makes above. There are lessons to be learned in unsatisfying work. In those jobs, we can also learn that sometimes it takes a change in attitude; if you can’t change the situation and can’t leave that job, sometimes you have to will yourself to find good things in day to day work.
Dotcoms and start ups, on the other hand, are not all fun and high living. Industries that are sitting on the cutting edge technology often face challenges that are extremely stressful and require long hours, weekend work, and literally figuring out how to do things that have never been done before. In my experience (having worked in both), catered meals were brought in because we were pulling 13 hour shifts as we pushed towards a launch date or were working on a live event like the Olympics. We take days off together because we worked a full weekend. It’s an attempt to find some balance in a new work model. I’m hoping this puts some of the perks in a new light.
I have been in both work situations…the very personally satisfying one, and the extremely frustrating one–the one where I was the mat everyone wiped their feet on.
Finding deeper meaning in the work I do has made a difference. If I do not feel I am serving–if there is no good to come from what I do–I am unhappy.
Is that selfish? To a certain extent, yes, I guess. I am looking to be gratified. But, I’d like to think it’s not a self-serving gratification.
Still thinking about this one.
Great post. More selflessness in the workplace would make for a much better workplace. Greater efficiency and greater overall benefit for the company, too. Not to mention making it a better place for all the colleagues.
Paula,
Great comments. Sometimes the work we do is unsatisfying because we do not have the proper attitude. It is not always a sign that we are in the wrong place, wrong job, or wrong calling.
Being a dot.com survivor myself, I can tell you that many of the perks during the dot.com era were simply to attract talent in a very, very competitive market. Today, it is meant as a perk, yes; however, it is also an attempt to keep your workforce busy working instead of leaving the building. The additional hours put in by employees because of these “perks” is considerable and usually outweigh any costs associated with them.
Brad
Work as defined by what we do to earn money is a good training ground for the work we’re called to do without money. Sometimes marriage is fun, an expression of our deepest selves, satisfying, intimate…sometimes not. Sometimes kids are a riot, sometimes that riot is the kids! Possibly not all of our lives will be, or should be, filled with endless choice for exciting and entertaining new opportunities. Maybe we have to stay, grounded, planted, prayerfully anticipating God’s work in the situation rather than ask what is in it for us. Like with churches, do we seek what we want to find or what God would have us know of Him? I found that the work I did in various offices was mostly in the messy lives of the people I worked with, not so much the place of employment or actual job, and it is in other people that we are called to invest.
I’m grateful for the conversation here . Bradley, I hear what you’re saying about God not wanting us in an unsatisfying job for an extended period of time but allow me to challenge that just a smidgen.
I don’t think that we can assume that God doesn’t will us to be in an unsatisfying job even longer term. Absolutely, we should find a job that is more satisfying if the option is available but for some, that may not be an option…and that may be by God’s design to cause us to look to Him for our satisfaction. This work of God may be a few weeks… but it could be a few years. The point is that the good that God will bring upon our lives may take many forms and he may use many means to accomplish this – even an unsatisfying job
ESQ….good point.
Sometimes, we JUST DON”T HAVE A CHOICE! I have met many many frustrated artists, writers, actors who don’t get paid for their work. Instead they drive buses, or wait tables or build homes. AND THAT’S OKAY. As long as they “work as unto the Lord,” a job doesnt always mean its a dream profession, fulfilling and satisfying.
Sometimes, friend, you just gotta pay the bills
David, thanks for highlighting ESI’s work. He has good words to share.
it’s reassuring to know that you aren’t the only one that wonders about work and who we really work for. The old song says our treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue. We have a better boss that pays us in ways other than money and beyond the blue.