What Kind of Work do You Do? Are Your Paid Enough?
Recently at a Christmas family gathering, one of our relatives spoke about his current job. While it seems things are going OK, he talked a lot about the difference between his current position and the one he held at a previous employer. Things aren't as good now as they once. were. Although he's paid well, the work isn't as satisfying.
One suspects most of us, if given our druthers, would prefer work that was satisfying, even enjoyable, and would like to be paid handsomely for it. Having both, in my experience, is rare. If you've got 'em both, congrats. You're most likely the exception.
In the more likely case that you've got one or the other - or perhaps neither - you may trying to improve your lot. That's understandable. Having work that's interesting, satisfying, even enjoyable beats drudgery every time. Being paid well for the work you do can serve as consolation for a job you don't really like, but wouldn't it be great to be paid well at a great job? Of course it would.
There's nothing wrong with improving your situation, but sometimes we get so wrapped up in our ambitions, in our desire for success, we forget what's most important.
Here's where reading Scripture each morning comes in handy. One recent morning, I came across Psalm 19. Right smack dab in the middle, verses 7 - 10, the psalmist calmly, clearly, directly speaks of what's important. Here we see how knowing and following the law of the Lord not only satisfies justice, but revives us. We learn that studying God's word makes us wise, even those of us who aren't geniuses, or formally trained in theology. It's a good tonic for all of us as we seek to improve our situation at work. Work hard, but don't lose sight of what's really important.
While satisfying work that pays well is a worthy pursuit, it's not what will get us to heaven. Again, "the ordinances of the Lore are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb."
One suspects most of us, if given our druthers, would prefer work that was satisfying, even enjoyable, and would like to be paid handsomely for it. Having both, in my experience, is rare. If you've got 'em both, congrats. You're most likely the exception.
In the more likely case that you've got one or the other - or perhaps neither - you may trying to improve your lot. That's understandable. Having work that's interesting, satisfying, even enjoyable beats drudgery every time. Being paid well for the work you do can serve as consolation for a job you don't really like, but wouldn't it be great to be paid well at a great job? Of course it would.
There's nothing wrong with improving your situation, but sometimes we get so wrapped up in our ambitions, in our desire for success, we forget what's most important.
Here's where reading Scripture each morning comes in handy. One recent morning, I came across Psalm 19. Right smack dab in the middle, verses 7 - 10, the psalmist calmly, clearly, directly speaks of what's important. Here we see how knowing and following the law of the Lord not only satisfies justice, but revives us. We learn that studying God's word makes us wise, even those of us who aren't geniuses, or formally trained in theology. It's a good tonic for all of us as we seek to improve our situation at work. Work hard, but don't lose sight of what's really important.
The law of the Lord is perfect,
reviving the soul,
the testimony of the Lord is sure,
making wise the simple;
the precepts of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is pure,
enlightening the eyes;
the fear of the Lord is clean,
enduring for ever;
the ordinances of the Lord are true,
and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold,
even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey
and drippings of the honeycomb
While satisfying work that pays well is a worthy pursuit, it's not what will get us to heaven. Again, "the ordinances of the Lore are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb."
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