What Are We Working For?
What are we working for? We've thought about this in different
ways from different perspectives throughout the years on this blog. There's no one
answer. Today, let's look to Scripture for some of those answers.
We'll start with Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) Chapter 30. Before we do, a quick reminder about daily reading of Scripture.
Time for reading Sacred Scripture should be part of our daily effort to grow closer to God. We combine this with regular prayer, reading good spiritual works, studying the doctrines of our Holy Religion. While most of us lead busy lives between work and family obligations, it's not too much to ask to set aside an hour or so each day for these pious practices. The morning suits me best. So I get up a bit earlier to allow for the time. Heck, I'm already getting up earlier to jam in some physical exercise, so what excuse would I have to not make time for these simple, yet essential, spiritual exercises?
Back to reading Scripture: It doesn't have to be some abstract endeavor. Frankly, when I first began the practice of regular reading of Scripture, it was a bit abstract. Maybe it's because I approached it more as an obligation rather than a way to grow closer to God. In any case, I've learned over the years that Sacred Scripture will connect frequently with our daily activities. That's how we'll look at the following passages.
So picture yourself getting ready for work, a part of which will be reading some Scripture for 10-15 minutes this morning. I recently came across this passage in Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) Chapter 30, and it fit today's theme:
"Better is a poor man who is sound and strong of constitution, than a rich man who is weak and afflicted with evils. Health of the soul in holiness of justice is better than all gold and silver: and a sound body, than immense revenues.
"There is no riches above the riches of the health of the body: and there is no pleasure above the joy of the heart. Better is death than a bitter life: and everlasting rest, than a continual sickness..."
Why do we work? For money? Certainly! While this passage could seem to question the idea of working for money, I don't think it is. It does, however, expand our horizons. Money? Sure. But money isn't everything.
Health, for example, takes precedence over money. Makes perfect sense, doesn't it? And the passage isn't just talking about bodily health. It's letting us know that the health of our soul should be our primary concern. When it comes to the soul, better to be poor and healthy, rather than rich and unhealthy.
But even bodily health takes precedence over money. Add to this emotional health - "the joy of the heart."
Applying this to work, we might consider the effect our work has on our body, our soul, and our emotional stability. I've had jobs that were borderline toxic. The stress they induced manifested itself either or both physically and emotionally. Perhaps your work wreaks such havoc on you. If that's the case, don't ignore it. If you need to change employers, or find a different career, don't put that off. The last sentence of the passage makes this an urgent endeavor:
"Better is death than a bitter life: and everlasting rest, than a continual sickness..."
In my own case, I know I put up with some toxic employment situations (fortunately few) for too long a time. Why? Primarily the pressure of having to have a steady flow of income to support my family. But an honest assessment would also find inertia played a role as well. We're comfortable with situations we know - even when we know they're not only far from ideal, but outright oppressive.
Maybe the old saying, "Better the devil you know than the devil you don't" plays a role here. We think we can manage things as they are. If we make a move - who knows? - maybe it will be worse. Yeah, I get it. But just take a step back and think about this. Surely there's a way you can assure - to some degree - that your next job won't be same old, same old. And if you're wrong, well, you'll likely be no worse off than you are now.
Anyway, you get the point. Don't sit back and take it when your job is sucking the life out of you. It's not good for you body, your mind, or your emotional stability.
Why not just "offer it up"? It's a valid question. And certainly you can do this when you're in the midst of a distressing situation. But offering it up should be your alternative when pain or misfortune is thrust upon you. You don't go searching for suffering in order to offer it up. And if you've got the possibility of improving your work life, then that's what you'll want to do.
Don't worry, you'll inevitably have plenty to offer up without your inertia having to be the source.
We'll continue our discussion next time.
We'll start with Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) Chapter 30. Before we do, a quick reminder about daily reading of Scripture.
Time for reading Sacred Scripture should be part of our daily effort to grow closer to God. We combine this with regular prayer, reading good spiritual works, studying the doctrines of our Holy Religion. While most of us lead busy lives between work and family obligations, it's not too much to ask to set aside an hour or so each day for these pious practices. The morning suits me best. So I get up a bit earlier to allow for the time. Heck, I'm already getting up earlier to jam in some physical exercise, so what excuse would I have to not make time for these simple, yet essential, spiritual exercises?
Back to reading Scripture: It doesn't have to be some abstract endeavor. Frankly, when I first began the practice of regular reading of Scripture, it was a bit abstract. Maybe it's because I approached it more as an obligation rather than a way to grow closer to God. In any case, I've learned over the years that Sacred Scripture will connect frequently with our daily activities. That's how we'll look at the following passages.
So picture yourself getting ready for work, a part of which will be reading some Scripture for 10-15 minutes this morning. I recently came across this passage in Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) Chapter 30, and it fit today's theme:
"Better is a poor man who is sound and strong of constitution, than a rich man who is weak and afflicted with evils. Health of the soul in holiness of justice is better than all gold and silver: and a sound body, than immense revenues.
"There is no riches above the riches of the health of the body: and there is no pleasure above the joy of the heart. Better is death than a bitter life: and everlasting rest, than a continual sickness..."
Why do we work? For money? Certainly! While this passage could seem to question the idea of working for money, I don't think it is. It does, however, expand our horizons. Money? Sure. But money isn't everything.
Health, for example, takes precedence over money. Makes perfect sense, doesn't it? And the passage isn't just talking about bodily health. It's letting us know that the health of our soul should be our primary concern. When it comes to the soul, better to be poor and healthy, rather than rich and unhealthy.
But even bodily health takes precedence over money. Add to this emotional health - "the joy of the heart."
Applying this to work, we might consider the effect our work has on our body, our soul, and our emotional stability. I've had jobs that were borderline toxic. The stress they induced manifested itself either or both physically and emotionally. Perhaps your work wreaks such havoc on you. If that's the case, don't ignore it. If you need to change employers, or find a different career, don't put that off. The last sentence of the passage makes this an urgent endeavor:
"Better is death than a bitter life: and everlasting rest, than a continual sickness..."
In my own case, I know I put up with some toxic employment situations (fortunately few) for too long a time. Why? Primarily the pressure of having to have a steady flow of income to support my family. But an honest assessment would also find inertia played a role as well. We're comfortable with situations we know - even when we know they're not only far from ideal, but outright oppressive.
Maybe the old saying, "Better the devil you know than the devil you don't" plays a role here. We think we can manage things as they are. If we make a move - who knows? - maybe it will be worse. Yeah, I get it. But just take a step back and think about this. Surely there's a way you can assure - to some degree - that your next job won't be same old, same old. And if you're wrong, well, you'll likely be no worse off than you are now.
Anyway, you get the point. Don't sit back and take it when your job is sucking the life out of you. It's not good for you body, your mind, or your emotional stability.
Why not just "offer it up"? It's a valid question. And certainly you can do this when you're in the midst of a distressing situation. But offering it up should be your alternative when pain or misfortune is thrust upon you. You don't go searching for suffering in order to offer it up. And if you've got the possibility of improving your work life, then that's what you'll want to do.
Don't worry, you'll inevitably have plenty to offer up without your inertia having to be the source.
We'll continue our discussion next time.
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